Issue 159

October 2017

Jake Shields, the man who fought everyone, everywhere to prove the superiority of American jiu-jitsu, looks back on five of his favorite fights.

1. Hayato Sakura, Shooto: Year End Show 2002

A lot of people may struggle to remember him now, but at the time I fought him, he was the number two ranked fighter in the world, and was completely unknown. I was a young kid and they took me out to Japan on two weeks’ notice to lose to him. I went out there and pulled off a big upset to beat him. Anderson Silva was ranked number one and he was number two. I was nowhere near the rankings, so to go out there and beat him was huge.”

2. Yushin Okami and Carlos Condit, Rumble on the Rock 9

“OK it’s two, but in the same night, so I think that should count! I was broke at the time and it wasn’t much of a purse – I think it was $40,000 on offer to win it – but I felt rich all of a sudden. There wasn’t much money to be had in fighting at the time, and I was like, ‘Yeah! I got money now!’ I bought a car and just lived o it so I could keep training. I didn’t have to get a real job and I could train full time. It was tiring. I had a war with Okami and I think Condit had an easy fight in the first round. Then, I had another war with him. It was tough. My friends dragged me out partying that night, but I just wanted to go to sleep.” 

3. Dan Henderson, Strikeforce: Nashville

“That was a big one. I was a huge underdog and I went in there and dominated him. It was great. He is a bigger guy and they brought him in there because they knew I was leaving for the UFC. They wanted Henderson to ensure I would depart with a loss, so to go out there and totally dominate him was a great feeling.”

4. Georges St-Pierre, UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields

“There were 60,000 people in the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The UFC title was on the line, but I ended up losing a close decision. I started winning the later rounds, but he won the first two. It was one of those really close fights. GSP is a tough guy to beat, and one of the greatest to ever live. Even though I lost that one, it was a great experience. I could have done better, but overall I don’t think I did badly.”

5. Demian Maia, UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields

“To beat him was special. Everyone wanted to see who has the best jiu-jitsu in MMA. Maia is one of my favorite fighters and he is one of the top guys in the world. Even though it was a close fight, to go out there and beat him felt great. I have fought guys like Tyron Woodley and Robbie Lawler, too. I have quite the history. I never got that padded record. Looking back, maybe I should have taken some easier fights!”