Jake Shields has never been one to make a fight personal, but he's definitely carrying a grudge heading into his bout against Rousimar Palhares.
In a career that has spanned nearly 16 years and produced multiple world titles on various stages across MMA, the slick submissions ace has earned his reputation as being one of the most laid-back competitors outside of the cage and one of the most dangerous once the ruckus gets rolling. Along the way he's faced—and in most cases defeated—some of the best fighters to compete in the welterweight and middleweight ranks to build one of the most impressive resumes in the current era of the sport.
In doing so, the San Francisco-based fighter has racked up a lofty list of achievements and has done it without going beyond the limits of his character to fabricate fictional beef for the sake of fight promotion.
So when Shields starts lacing shots in the direction of his upcoming opponent and current WSOF welterweight champion Palhares, there is reason to believe things have drifted into the realm of personal for the former Strikeforce middleweight titleholder. He sees Palhares' penchant for holding onto submission and knack for injuring his opponents as a bold sign of the Brazilian's lack of professionalism and plans to teach Toquinho a lesson when they square off for the welterweight strap Saturday night at WSOF 22.
Shields said it bothers him that Palhares "is out there trying to hurt people."
"It's one thing to hurt someone if it happens in a fight, but it's another to do it intentionally. We go out there to fight, and getting hurt is part of the sport, but looking to do it intentionally is just dirty. Especially in jiu-jitsu. It bothers me even more that he tries to act so nice and comes off so fake. I have a lot to get excited for in this fight.
"We put our careers on the line when we go out there, and trying to hurt someone is just dirty. It doesn't matter if the guy he's facing taps out, he'll crank on it anyway and blow out the knee. That makes me not like this guy and it brings and added element to this fight. I know the kind of fighter he is and I am ready for it."
Shields knows Palhares is capable of stepping over the line and putting his career at risk once their main event gets underway Saturday, and that has him prepared to tap into the darker side of his own psyche. Fighting is a brutal sport by it's nature, but the sporting element typically creates an element of sportsmanship between the two competitors.
In Shields' mind, that won't exist when the cage door closes Saturday night in Las Vegas, and he's ready and willing to mix it up anyway the 170-pound champion wants to get down.
"If the guy you're fighting is playing dirty, then you have to go fight at his level," Shields said. "You can't be out there trying to not hurt someone who is definitely out there trying to hurt you. That's when you have to be willing to get down to that level and do whatever it takes to get the win."
In addition to his quest to make a statement to a fighter he believes deserve zero respect for the dangerous and illegal tactics he's consistently displayed over the past several years, the 36-year-old Tareq Azim-trained fighter will also be aiming to add another championship belt to his mantle. Shields has spent the past decade competing at the elite levels of two different weight classes and has held a status as either champion or perennial title threat wherever he's chosen to compete.
And while veteran resurgences have been increasing as of late, Shields sees his current run as anything but. He believes he's doing some of the best work of his decorated career, and back-to-back first-round finishes against opponents with devastating power—like the caliber of what Ryan Ford and Brian Foster possess—go a long way to reflect that notion.
"It's crazy to be honest," Shields said. "I'm feeling the best I've ever felt, which is kind of weird with my age and being at this stage of my career to be feeling better than ever. I'm just in a good space mentally, and I've really started to enjoy fighting again. I really want to make a statement with these fights. I came into both of those fights with the plan to finish in the first round, and that's what I did."
With a victory over Palhares at WSOF 22, the American jiu-jitsu representative's career would once again shift into a higher gear. While mixed results under the UFC banner spawned questions as to whether or not Shields' best days in the cage were behind him, any doubts about his motivation to compete have been erased during his time with WSOF.
He's fallen back in love with fighting, and as long as that love remains, Shields is confident he will continue to step in and give his best. When the day comes where he doesn't feel that spark, Shields has zero doubt that he'll walk away. And with everything he's accomplished in his career, there won't be anything to regret when that decision inevitably comes to call.
"I feel like I have one of the best resumes in the sport, and it's something I definitely take pride in," Shields said. "I've won multiple titles and have done it at different weights. That's not something a lot of fighters have accomplished, and I'm proud to have done it. I certainly wouldn't mind adding one more belt to my resume and a few more wins.
"I'm just doing it one fight at a time right now. I've fought for so long and have pretty much accomplished all of my goals and have done the things I wanted to do, so I'm taking things one fight at a time at this point in my career. I'm feeling so comfortable right now, and I'm enjoying it. After each fight I look at the situation and see if I want to fight again. Right now, I'm feeling great, but once you start slipping it's time to walk away. This is a dangerous sport, and it becomes a lot more dangerous if you aren't 100 percent committed to it."
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
