Jake Shields Injured, Out of WSOF 11 Welterweight Matchup with Jon Fitch

Jake Shields' World Series of Fighting debut has been delayed. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Sherdog.com on Wednesday confirmed the news with World Series of Fighting officials following an initial report from MMAFighting.com. Shields stepped in earlier this month after the promotion’s original plan to pair Fitch against champion Rousimar Palhares fell through.

WSOF 11 takes place July 5 at a to-be-announced location and is headlined by a lightweight title confrontation between Justin Gaethje and Nick Newell. The evening’s main card airs live on NBC Sports, though it is currently unknown if Fitch will remain on the bill.

Shields, 35, has not competed since receiving his UFC release on the heels of a March decision loss to Hector Lombard. Prior to that setback, the former Strikeforce middleweight king had won back-to-back bouts, outpointing Demian Maia and Tyron Woodley in split verdicts last year.

Fitch, 36, competed for the UFC from 2005 to 2013, racking up a record of 14-3-1 during his time with the promotion. The American Kickboxing Academy standout was knocked out by Josh Burkman in his WSOF debut last June but rebounded in October, taking a split decision win over Marcelo Alfaya at WSOF 6.