Jake Shields makes UFC debut

Jake Shields Makes UFC Debut

Finally, Jake Shields is set to fight in the UFC! His stardom and winning record has pointed toward an oppurtunity to fight in the UFC for quite some time now, and it has been announced recently, that it is official, he is finally making his ultimate fighting championship debut against Martin Kampman, at UFC 121. But the question is, how will Shields fair out in the proving grounds that is the UFC?
In the last 5 years, Jake Shields has not tasted defeat, winning 14 straight fights, winning the Strikeforce welterweight championship along the way. He is also the last Rumble on the Rock champion, and trains with Ceasar Gracie's "scrap pack" wich includes fighters, Nick and Nate Diaz, Dave Terrell, and Gilbert Melendez. So it's fair to say that the 31 year old from Mountain Ranch California has the background. And in his 30 fight career, he has only lost 4 fights.
So given that kind of background and record, Shields should be an automatic star in the UFC right? Not so much. when you take a closer look at that record, you will find a one dimensional fighter with more decision wins than anything. Nearly half of his fights went the distance, where he just wrestled his opponent around for the length of the fight, and did minimum damage.
Sure, he has wins over some top fighters, such as Dan Henderson, Carlos Conditt, Robbie Lawler, and Dave Menne. However, he has yet to show an impressive standup game, taking all his opponents down and smothering them, usually winning by decision. Shields lacks the power in his hands to stand with opponents, and is too predictable to be a force in the UFC.
Now don't get me wrong, Jake Shields is a great fighter, but he is only great at one thing, and that is wrestling, and being a pure wrestler in the UFC does not cut it, unless your Brock Lesnar. The level of competition in the UFC welterweight division is just a little bit out of Shields' league. With the belt holder being George St. Pierre, owner of the best takedown defense in MMA, you need more than pure wrestling. And top contenders such as Thiago Alvez, Josh Koscheck, and John Fitch, are too well rounded for Shields. Koscheck is equally as good at wrestling as Shields, but has better hands, giving him the advantage against Shields. Fitch, would likely get Shields down before Shields could get him down, and would punish Shields. And Alvez, well ask Matt Hughes what happens if wrestling is all you bring into a fight against Alvez.
I like alot of the MMA fan community, am a Jake Shields fan. I just don't see how he can compete at the highest level. His debut fight against Kampman is a good fight to see where he stands, because Kampman is a well rounded fighter, with power in his hands, and submission skills. Shields will have to win, and win convincingly, to prove he belongs at all. Kampman, without doubt has the KO power to beat Shields though, so a classic Jake Shields fight is likely here, Jake Shields gets the takedowns and wins by decision. He will have to do so however, without getting clipped by kampman, and without getting caught in a submission by Kampman.
I'm looking forward to this fight, and am leaning toward Shields, but it could go either way. The thing is though, after this fight, what is Shields to do? The top welterweights in the division are too much for him, so a title shot is unlikely. Expect to see Jake Shields lose his 2nd fight, and finish his career fighting at UFC Fight Night Live events.