Big Appetite: Shields Eyeing Two Divisional Titles
Jake Rossen Nov 3, 2009
Roy Jones tried straddling weight classes and it virtually ruined
him; Jake
Shields isn’t paying that much attention. The welterweight that
defeated middleweight Robbie
Lawler last June told MMAJunkie Radio Monday that he feels
capable of contending for belts at both 170 and 185 pounds.
“I've bulked up,” Shields said. “I'm still not a true 185-pounder. But I've bulked up. During training I weigh 191 or 192 and it kind of sticks. I don't want to go much higher...The main reason I went up was because of the lack of good opponents for me.”
The analogy is a little shaky: Jones tried his hands at heavyweight, adding considerable mass, whereas Shields appears to be just cutting less and climbing into the cage as a smaller middleweight. But it does to speak to the lack of focus precipitated by Strikeforce’s welterweight division: Shields appears bored at his natural weight.
Shields didn’t have much of answer for the idea that training partner and friend Nick Diaz has the same attitude: take fights at whatever weight they come in at. One seems equally likely of sabotaging the other’s career arc at random. If you’re a fan with OCD, these can’t be two of your favorite fighters at the moment.
“I've bulked up,” Shields said. “I'm still not a true 185-pounder. But I've bulked up. During training I weigh 191 or 192 and it kind of sticks. I don't want to go much higher...The main reason I went up was because of the lack of good opponents for me.”
The analogy is a little shaky: Jones tried his hands at heavyweight, adding considerable mass, whereas Shields appears to be just cutting less and climbing into the cage as a smaller middleweight. But it does to speak to the lack of focus precipitated by Strikeforce’s welterweight division: Shields appears bored at his natural weight.
Shields didn’t have much of answer for the idea that training partner and friend Nick Diaz has the same attitude: take fights at whatever weight they come in at. One seems equally likely of sabotaging the other’s career arc at random. If you’re a fan with OCD, these can’t be two of your favorite fighters at the moment.
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