Shields wanted Fitch, will take Ellenberger for main event slot
When he got the call to headline in the Louisiana event, Shields was a little taken back by it because…
When he got the call to headline in the Louisiana event, Shields was a little taken back by it because he was hoping to be on the UFC 139 card in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 19. Bouts with B.J. Penn or Jon Fitch seemed like the most attractive pairings for Shields, but those never materialized and Ellenberger is waiting for him, now.
Besides, fighting Ellenberger in New Orleans means being the main attraction. How could he turn that down?
I fight whoever they tell me, but when they asked me (to fight) Ellenberger, my first reaction was I want to fight someone like B.J. or Fitch, Shields said on MMAWeekly Radio Weekend Edition. But they wanted me to fight Ellenberger and it was a main event. I’m willing to fight whoever they want. I’m not one to say no, especially if it’s a main event. So I said, ‘sure, I’ll do it.’ But I was hoping to fight Fitch on the San Jose card.