Jake Shields: Tougher Than Most Recognize

Yahoo! MMA writers Dave Meltzer and Kevin Iole discuss the main event at UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields. Their analysis is fine generally, but I wanted to home in on Iole’s analysis of Jake Shields. I won’t go with Iole all the way to suggesting Shields takes the title from St. Pierre, but I agree his durability is criminally underrated. Shields has defeated two of the top middleweights on the planet - both noted as power strikers - and did so as a natural welterweight. When one of them rocked him badly, Shields hung up and persevered to nevertheless win a decision. Shields will be technically frustrated against St. Pierre, but the notion that he’s going to be manhandled and bombed on from pillar to post is fantasy.

St. Pierre will likely be more aggressive in the stand-up with Shields than he has in previous fights because of the latter’s lopsided skill set. However, Shields’ toughness combined with St. Pierre’s reluctance to over commit standing or even to a hurt opponent (particularly on the ground where Shields can swiftly reverse fortunes) will make this a much longer fight than many anticipate.