Jake Shields Looks to Put a Most Difficult Year Behind Him (UFC 144 Video)

MMAWeekly.com caught up with former Strikeforce champion and UFC welterweight Jake Shields as he met with the media at the UFC 144 open workouts in Tokyo.

Shields faced a tough year in 2011, not only did he lose back-to-back fights for the first time in his career, failing to capture the belt from UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, but more importantly, he also faced the loss of his father. Jack Shields was close to his son, serving as his manager, as well as one of his best friends.

Shields is now looking to put a rough year behind him, returning to the Octagon for the first time in five months. He squares off with Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 144.

Check out what Jake Shields had to say at the UFC 144 open workouts in Japan…