Strikeforce's Jake Shields vs. Dan Henderson Title Fight is Better Than UFC's Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort - Fighters.com's January Middleweight Top Ten
Photo by Josh Hedges. Copyright Zuffa, LLC
“I think [Vitor Belfort] is a great fighter,” Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked middleweight “Great” Nate Marquardt (29-8-2) told MMA Weekly Radio recently. “I don’t necessarily agree with him getting a shot or whatever, just because he really hasn’t fought at 85,” he added.
That sums it.
Until last year, UFC President Dana White boasted that his top-down authority over MMA led to matchups between the two best fighters in any division, unlike boxing where fighters were matched according to marketability wich has led to the unmarketability of boxing. And, until November 2008 White was right. But, in the past year-and-a-half or so, the matchups in the UFC have been determined by market more than sport.
The top challenger to Fighters.com and UFC Middleweight Champion “Spider” Anderson Silva (25-4) is second-ranked Strikeforce champion Jake Shields (24-4-1). And, it’s a good matchup on paper too, Silva being the best striker in the sport and Shields being at the top of his grappling game.
But, I understand the business and give White a pass for not collaborating on big fights with competing promotions. So, the next best matchup for Silva in the UFC was third-ranked “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (25-7). But, White wouldn’t pony up the cash to keep Hendo in the Octagon to make the fight. Henderson abandoned White and the UFC and signed with Strikeforce.
It happens. Then, the next best matchup for Silva is fourth-ranked “Great” Nate Marquardt (29-8-2), whom Silva himself calls the next king of the division. But, Marquardt was passed over.
Instead, eighth-ranked “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (18-8) will challenge Silva at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi April 10 in a more marketing stand-up war between two big names. But, Marquardt is right. Belfort has been in and out of the middlweight division and his most recent TKO of “Ace” Rich Franklin (26-5) at UFC 103 in Dallas September 19 was at 195 pounds.
But, as the hype behind Silva-Belfort barely simmers, a better matchup between Shields and Henderson at Strikeforce boils hot.
Shields is expected defend his Strikeforce title from newly-signed Henderson on CBS in April. That’s the biggest fight in the division, bigger than the UFC’s title fight the same month.
The champion, Shields, is a long-time holdout from the UFC who has managed nonetheless to put together an outstanding record versus established talent. Henderson was to be Silva’s next challenger in the UFC and, therefore, even White can’t talk-down Henderson’s ranking. So, whichever fighter leaves the cage with the Strikeforce title in April is the legitimate world’s top contender to Silva. And, he’s not in the UFC. It’s a better matchup on paper, it’s a better matchup in the division rankings, and there’s a lot more on the line.
Fighters.com’s January Middleweight Top Ten
1. “Spider” Anderson Silva (25-4)
2. Jake Shields (24-4-1)
3. “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (25-7)
4. “Great” Nate Marquardt (29-8-2)
5. “Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (23-2-1)
6. Demian Maia (10-1)
7. Chael Sonnen (23-10-1)
8. “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (18-8)
9. “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (9-2)
10. “Ely” Paulo Filho (16-1)
- loading... subscribers
-
Souza, Shields, & Henderson Make a Trio for Strikeforce – Fighters.com’s December Middleweight Rankings
Posted: December 28, 2009Comments: 0 -
Fighters.com’s November Middleweight Rankings – Is Jake Shields the Antidote to Anderson Silva’s Dominance?
Posted: November 10, 2009Comments: 8
That’s fucked up henderson desrved that shot!!!!!
I’m assuming that you actually watch MMA since you are writing for this website, but you must have lost your mind. Your ranking system is a just a tad bit off, Shields at #2 is hysterical, he’s not even the #2 WW and he’s fought once at MW against Jason Miller. He refused to fight Lawler at MW, and basically he has two more legit wins on his record, Okami, and Paul Daley. The fact that you don’t even have Vitor Belforts record correct (19-8) is disturbing enough, but then to call Shields a “longtime hold-out from the UFC” is just plain wrong. Jake Shields has openly expressed his interest to sign with the UFC, however the UFC hasn’t been yelling for him. Perhaps because Jake is a grappler, and that’s it. His stand-up skills are rudimentary at best. Fix yourself before you write something dumb again.
Marquadt got passed over b/c Anderson Silva already wrecked him…Hendo and the UFC couldnt agree on terms so he went elsewhere…oh by the way…Anderson Silva already wrecked him…Vitor Belfort has name recognition and has beat top ranked guys in the UFC previously and currently looked very impressive after demolishing Rich Franklin…maybe its too soon for a title shot but Anderson has pretty much cleared out the division…i have no problem w/ this match up…if Marquadt beats Sonnen hell get the next shot after Belfort…Demian Maia is on the come up but still has to beat a top ranked middleweight b4 he earns a title shot and thats if he wins his next fight at UFC 109…he still has at least 2 more fights b4 earning the shot…so UFC is doing everything right in my eyes as far as the middleweight title is concered…all the other middleweights on the list arent even in the UFC so its a moot point to even consider those fights…
w/ that being said im looking forward to Hendo/Shields fight but what warrants Hendo getting a title shot in his 1st match in Strikeforce????? oh thats right…name recognition and marketability…the same thing youre faulting the UFC for but praising Strikeforce for…
karoparisya: My thoughts EXACTLY. I was gonna write that stuff but then I read your comment. Ditto that!
Shields has been consistently overranked by multiple websites all in the name of trying to be balanced and fair.
Shields as the No.2 MW in MMA???!!!!????
I stopped reading the article once I saw that. Leg-humping a borderline Top-30 MW in Mayhem Miller in your only MW fight gets to No. 2? Hilarious.
Shields is a borderline Top-5 WELTERWEIGHT.
Shields at No. 2, Mousassi isn’t even a MW anymore, and Filho and Jacare in the Top-10?
Congrats, this might be the worst rankings list I’ve ever seen. Impressive.
The writer of this article’s a joke… I feel dumber after reading it.. Period.
hahahaha buddy, rankings dont fucking matter in MMA, period. its a matter of opinion. jake shields will get WRECKED by hendo, and i can say with confidence vitor and marquardt would eat him alive also. i agree with HeadHunters comment as well.
@karoparisyan
According to mixedmartialarts.com he is 18-8.
In March 2008, Mixed Martial Arts LLC. was selected by the Association of Boxing Commissions as the only Official Certified Database for Mixed Martial Arts.
Therefore as they are the only official records in existence, we use them
Jake Shields has long been one of the best fighters in MMA, fighters and MMA insiders know all about him and he is ranked at both welterweight and middleweight by Sports Illustrated, Inside MMA, Tapout Mag. and many others.
Many fans know little about Shields, he has been a consensus (top 25 sites) Top 10 fighter since 2003, and is undefeated since 2004.
Wins over Okami, Lawler (2 Top 10 MW’s) and Sakurai, Condit, Kikuchi, Daley, Thompson, Pyle, Menne, Chauto Verissimo etc.
I have seen about 12-14 of his fights and I am a fan.
I read last month that he has 13 wins over top 20-30 opponents and 7 wins over Top 10 competition. Check the records of your favorite fighters, there are only a hand full that can match his record.
I think he is the # 2 WW and has a good chance to beat GSP, I think you are right about Shields and Silva. Hendo is a tougher match up for Shields than Anderson, who’is the best striker in MMA, but has only average TD defense and BJJ.
Henderson is ranked #2 MW and # 4 LHW by SI, he has a win and a loss with Nog. (240lbs) and has fought his whole career at MW, LHW and HW.
Shields has fought at 170lbs until 7 months ago when he beat Top 5 MW Robbie Lawler.
He is fighting on an old welterweight contract and is only fighting up 15lbs because of lack of competition.
This is his last fight on a bad contract, i hope we see him with the WW’s at the UFC.
I think there’s too much emphasis put on rankings as they are completely arbitrary. Most websites disagree on rankings once you get past Anderson Silva. I am actually a big fan of Strikeforce and I disagree with UFC on many fronts. However when it comes to the middle weight title fight I am very excited about the Belfort Anderson match up. Belfort is the only guy in middle weight that has a ligitimate chance and necessary tools to defeat Anderson. I think those two are heads above the rest of the middle weight. Belforts record is not the greatest but if he can focus on his fighting, which he seems to be doing, he’s clearly the number two fighter at that weight in my opinion. Dan henderson may be number two, but in their first fight it was clear that he could not handle Anderson in stand up. He did take him down but couldn’t do anything other than hold Silva down so he doesn’t stand a chance. Marquart also didn’t threaten Anderson in any way, either in stand up or ground. Belfort has the speed and power to hurt Silva and since Silva will most likely stand and bang, Vitor has a good chance to win this fight.
this article is full of bullshit. Shields would get stomped if he stepped inside the octagon. Who is going to fire this jabroni?!!
All Ya’ll Henderson haters can kiss my A * * ! Dan Henderson has been nothing but Humble his whole career and is 1 of the toughest Fighters since MMA started. Look at his size, He’s tiny but Cock strong and an Excellent wrestler! Dana ( Queer ) White is the Cheapest sorry sack in the business! he’s to stop being a Greedy arrogant bastard and pay Dan what he deserves! And there ain’t a one of you who can make a ligit argument on why Dan doesn’t deserve another title shot against Silva!! He’s beaten everyone Dana has put in front of him since Anderson Silva, and White is to cheap to pay him what he SURELY can afford to pay him, I mean let’s face it the UFC is the Biggest thing going today and has been for a while! Let’s say Hendo was asking for 1,000,000 to fight Silva. The man deserves every penny! 350,000 for his last fight, That’s absurd! With a man of Dan Hendersons caliber and being in the Top 10 best MMA fighters of all time ( In my book ) ! He deserves to be paid! Dana White always been cheap that’s why there is always controversy with him and let’s see…. Oh Yea Randy Corture, Tito Ortiz, Rampage Jackson, and hmmm I wonder why the Pitbull left! man up Dana! Come out of that Gimormous wallett of yours. Yea Dana if Strikeforce is able to pay Dan and your not what’s that tell me?? Tells me your one Cheap SOB! Hendo, You deserve every penny your one Bad MF, and at almost 40! Incredible! He dominated Silva that first round, and maybe if he would have been a little smarter not to swing Silva and stick to his ground game he might have won that fight! F * * * all yall Henderson haters! That mans a class act!!
@Lewie
MMA Rankings: Shields proves biggest winner in latest shuffle
Story Highlights
Jake Shields makes his first appearance among the top pound-for-pound fighters
He joins Dan Henderson, Anderson Silva as only fighters listed in two divisions
The Major sites have Shields p4p. Unbeaten since 2004 while winning the Shooto/ ROTR/ EliteXC/ and Strikeforce World Championships.