Biography and Profile of Jake Shields
Jake Shields Biography Introduction:
Jake Shields was really a 170 pound fighter that moved up to the 185 pound division in order to challenge himself against the best when he took on Dan Henderson in Nashville on April 17, 2010. In the end, this fight told us three things about Shields that were as important as anything.
First, he has world class wrestling skills, as he took Hollywood down at will.
Second, Shields is one tough hombre that can take a big time punch. And third, he has that one thing you can't really teach.
Shields has heart. Now here's his story.
Date of Birth:
Jake Shields was born on January 9, 1979 in Mountain Ranch, California.
Training Camp and Fighting Organization:
Shields trains with Cesar Gracie Fight Team, but also works Muay Thai with the kickboxing team at the Fairtex Combat Academy. Shields also owns a gym in Berkely, California where he teaches his own version of martial arts called American Jiu Jitsu.
Currently, Shields is an MMA free agent. Rumors are swirling that he will soon sign with the UFC.
Early Life:
Shields grew up in Mountain Ranch, California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In other words, the terrain around him was a little different than most. Even more interesting is the fact that he and his two older brothers lived at the end of a dirt road on the rim of the Jesus Maria Canyon.
Shields has been a vegetarian his entire life and was home schooled until junior high.
Given the terrain and climate he grew up in, snowboarding, climbing mountains, mountain biking, and wild caving were pretty normal to him. He and his siblings spent a lot of time together as their closest friends were a 45 minute hike down a canyon.
Wrestling Training:
Shields started wrestling on an amateur basis at the age of nine. In high school, he was a four year varsity letterman at Calaveras High School, where he qualified for the states. Along the way, he managed a second place finish at the Amateur Athletic Union National Freestyle Championships and was named a two time All American wrestler at Cuesta College.
Submission Grappling Leads To MMA:
During the summer of 2001 (the same time he received a wrestling scholarship to SF State), Shields started training under the Cesar Gracie Fight Team banner, a team he is still affiliated with. This led to him becoming a three-time Grapplers Quest Advance Champion, Pan American Jui Jitsu Champion, Pan Am Open Advance Submission Champion, Gracie Open Superfight Champion, and third place finisher at ADCC in 2005.
In 2007, he received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Cesar Gracie.
MMA Beginnings:
In September of 1999, Shields started training at SLO Kickboxing Academy (Chuck Liddell's gym). Soon after that, he picked up his first mixed martial arts win on 10/23/99 over Paul Harrison by TKO. Through his first 10 fights, Shields posted a record of 7-3. In 2001, as was noted earlier, he began training with Cesar Gracie Fight Team.
Shields did enough during those beginning stages of his career to be called to fight by the Japanese organization Shooto.
MMA Star:
In his Shooto debut, Shields defeated Hayato Sakurai by unanimous decision. In fact, from there he went on an amazing streak of 18-1-1, defeating top flight fighters like Dan Henderson, Jason Miller, Robbie Lawler, and Paul Daley. Further, he accumulated several championships including the Shooto Middleweight, ROTR Welterweight Tournament, Elite XC Welterweight, and Strikeforce Middleweight Championships until such time as he was released by Strikeforce in July of 2010.
Controversy After Final Strikeforce Bout:
After defeating Dan Henderson in an upset televised on CBS, Shields' post fight interview was interrupted by Jason Miller who asked "Where's my rematch, buddy?" in the microphone. Shields' teammate Gilbert Melendez then pushed Miller, Nick Diaz threw a punch at him, and a brawl commenced. The fight was eventually broken up and no one was seriously injured. Shields and five other participants were suspended for three months and fined between $5,000-$7,500.
Fighting Style:
Shields calls his fighting style American Jiu Jitsu. Along with this, he is known for his outstanding takedowns, ground control, and submission skills. From a striking perspective, he tends to get hit, even if his offense has improved. However, against Dan Henderson and in the past he has proved that his toughness and jaw are unquestionable.
Shields also always comes to fight in shape and is known for his cardio.
Personal Life:
Shields is a single father with an eight year old daughter.
Some of Shields' Greatest MMA Victories:
Jake Shields was really a 170 pound fighter that moved up to the 185 pound division in order to challenge himself against the best when he took on Dan Henderson in Nashville on April 17, 2010. In the end, this fight told us three things about Shields that were as important as anything.
First, he has world class wrestling skills, as he took Hollywood down at will.
Second, Shields is one tough hombre that can take a big time punch. And third, he has that one thing you can't really teach.
Shields has heart. Now here's his story.
Date of Birth:
Jake Shields was born on January 9, 1979 in Mountain Ranch, California.
Training Camp and Fighting Organization:
Shields trains with Cesar Gracie Fight Team, but also works Muay Thai with the kickboxing team at the Fairtex Combat Academy. Shields also owns a gym in Berkely, California where he teaches his own version of martial arts called American Jiu Jitsu.
Currently, Shields is an MMA free agent. Rumors are swirling that he will soon sign with the UFC.
Early Life:
Shields grew up in Mountain Ranch, California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In other words, the terrain around him was a little different than most. Even more interesting is the fact that he and his two older brothers lived at the end of a dirt road on the rim of the Jesus Maria Canyon.
Shields has been a vegetarian his entire life and was home schooled until junior high.
Given the terrain and climate he grew up in, snowboarding, climbing mountains, mountain biking, and wild caving were pretty normal to him. He and his siblings spent a lot of time together as their closest friends were a 45 minute hike down a canyon.
Wrestling Training:
Shields started wrestling on an amateur basis at the age of nine. In high school, he was a four year varsity letterman at Calaveras High School, where he qualified for the states. Along the way, he managed a second place finish at the Amateur Athletic Union National Freestyle Championships and was named a two time All American wrestler at Cuesta College.
Submission Grappling Leads To MMA:
During the summer of 2001 (the same time he received a wrestling scholarship to SF State), Shields started training under the Cesar Gracie Fight Team banner, a team he is still affiliated with. This led to him becoming a three-time Grapplers Quest Advance Champion, Pan American Jui Jitsu Champion, Pan Am Open Advance Submission Champion, Gracie Open Superfight Champion, and third place finisher at ADCC in 2005.
In 2007, he received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Cesar Gracie.
MMA Beginnings:
In September of 1999, Shields started training at SLO Kickboxing Academy (Chuck Liddell's gym). Soon after that, he picked up his first mixed martial arts win on 10/23/99 over Paul Harrison by TKO. Through his first 10 fights, Shields posted a record of 7-3. In 2001, as was noted earlier, he began training with Cesar Gracie Fight Team.
Shields did enough during those beginning stages of his career to be called to fight by the Japanese organization Shooto.
MMA Star:
In his Shooto debut, Shields defeated Hayato Sakurai by unanimous decision. In fact, from there he went on an amazing streak of 18-1-1, defeating top flight fighters like Dan Henderson, Jason Miller, Robbie Lawler, and Paul Daley. Further, he accumulated several championships including the Shooto Middleweight, ROTR Welterweight Tournament, Elite XC Welterweight, and Strikeforce Middleweight Championships until such time as he was released by Strikeforce in July of 2010.
Controversy After Final Strikeforce Bout:
After defeating Dan Henderson in an upset televised on CBS, Shields' post fight interview was interrupted by Jason Miller who asked "Where's my rematch, buddy?" in the microphone. Shields' teammate Gilbert Melendez then pushed Miller, Nick Diaz threw a punch at him, and a brawl commenced. The fight was eventually broken up and no one was seriously injured. Shields and five other participants were suspended for three months and fined between $5,000-$7,500.
Fighting Style:
Shields calls his fighting style American Jiu Jitsu. Along with this, he is known for his outstanding takedowns, ground control, and submission skills. From a striking perspective, he tends to get hit, even if his offense has improved. However, against Dan Henderson and in the past he has proved that his toughness and jaw are unquestionable.
Shields also always comes to fight in shape and is known for his cardio.
Personal Life:
Shields is a single father with an eight year old daughter.
Some of Shields' Greatest MMA Victories:
- Shields defeats Dan Henderson by unanimous decision at Strikeforce: Nashville: Henderson unleashed some furious fists on Shields in the beginning of this bout. But throughout Shields proved that he has a great jaw and his wrestling skills are second to none.
- Shields defeats Robbie Lawler by guillotine choke at Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields: People wondered aloud if Shields could hang in the middleweight division with a striker like Lawler. Only 2:02 into the fight, they realized that he could.
- Shields defeats Hayato Sakurai by decision at Shooto- 2002 Year End Show: A big win in his first Shooto contest. This one announced to the world that there was a new fighter in town.