Shields: I will tap GSP, then go 185 if I get bored
Question: You said you didn’t handle the weight cut properly for the Martin Kampmann fight. What did you do wrong…
Question: You said you didn’t handle the weight cut properly for the Martin Kampmann fight. What did you do wrong there?
Jake Shields: I’d been fighting up at ’85 and I got really big. When it came to drop the weight, I just did it too last minute and the muscle didn’t come off as fast as I thought.
I made a huge mistake there, but my weight’s down in place now. It’s 182, so I’m nice and light.
Q: When you did move up to 185 for that period of time, was it difficult to put on that muscle?
JS: Yeah, it was very difficult putting it on. I finally started feeling big when I fought (Dan) Henderson, and then it was difficult to take it off.
Moving up and down in weight is kind of a pain in the ass, but hey, it’s something I’ll probably do again.
Q: I know you’re aiming to have a nice, long reign at 170, but do you think at some point you might try the 185 waters again?
JS: Yeah, I think I would. I’m always looking for challenges, so I’m going to go where the challenge is. If I’m successful at 170 and take that belt, I’ll probably start thinking about.
I’m in the sport to test myself. If I start getting bored, I really wouldn’t want to be here anymore. So yeah, I would definitely move up.
Q: One of the things that GSP tries to do every fight is add a few new wrinkles to his arsenal. What do you think you might expect from him that you haven’t seen before?
JS: I see he’s working a lot of jiu-jitsu in this fight (ed niote: see video below of GSP preparing wioth BJJ legend Renzo Gracie), so he’ll probably have some new tricks in jiu-jitsu. Wouldn’t be surprised for him to go out there and try to take me down and try to play me in jiu-jitsu. … I’ll be ready for that.
Q: Let’s talk about that a bit. He’s an excellent counterwrestler who stuffs most takedown attempts against him. Why do you think he’s so effective doing that?
JS: He’s got really good awareness and really good hips, and he’s really strong and he knows how to move. So he’s one of the best counterwrestlers in the business?
Q: How do keep GSP from boxing you the same way?
JS: Staying in his face. … Koscheck, once he got busted up a couple of times, kind of let GSP dictate the pace. That’s what he likes to do and that’s why it’s so effective. That’s what I don’t plan on letting him do.
Q: Do you ever get to the point where you feel compelled to give up position and roll the dice for … for a asubmission?
JS: Yeah. I do that quite often.
Q: For this training camp, you brought in Chael Sonnen and Matt Lindland from Team Quest. What do they bring to the table for your preparation?
JS: They’re just phenomenal wrestlers. Chael has a similar style to GSP, with that flat double, and he’s strong and aggressive. Lindland’s really good in the clinch. So I brought in those guys, mostly for sparring partners, but also to learn things from them, as well.
You always can learn. It’s such a complex sport, you never can quit learning.
Shields will challenge St. Pierre for the 170-pound title at the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s April 30 event in Toronto.
Jake Shields training against world class MMA wrestlers Chael Sonnen and Matt Lindland