Jake Shields will be cageside for “UFC 124: St. Pierre vs Koscheck II”

Jake Shields, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion, recently was successful in extending his win streak to now 15 in-a-row when he defeated welterweight stud Martin Kampmann, in his debut just a couple of weeks ago at ufc 121, in Anaheim, Cali.

The Cesar Gracie product showed superior grappling skills over the well-rounded Kampmann. Though his gas tank was depleted early, by what Shields claims was the result of a 20-pound weight cut which hindered both his performance and his conditioning inside the cage.

It’s conceivable, considering Shields had just come off from back-to-back five five-minute rounds against middleweight standouts Jason Miller and Dan Henderson, respectively, as an 185-pound fighter before dropping back down to his natural weight class at 170.

Now garnering his title shot against the winner of UFC 124′s main event, Shields will be cage side for the action, possibly to formally challenge his next opponent in 2011.

“It was a great feeling because after that fight I knew I put on such a poor performance, I wouldn’t have been surprised at all if (UFC president Dana White) said either (Jon) Fitch or (Carlos) Condit or something for the title shot”, said to MMAWeekly.com Jake after hearing news that he would now be considered the number one contender to the welterweight belt.

“I wouldn’t have blamed him at all cause I was so mad at myself for putting on such a bad performance,”

“I think it’s awesome that they’re still giving me the shot. Even though this wasn’t the best performance, I honestly do still feel I deserve a title shot, on a 15-fight winning streak, over some pretty decent opponents.”

Shields, a long time training partner of Josh Koscheck‘s out of the American Kickboxing Academy, is hoping that current welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre will come out victorious in their match in December, in front of “Rush’s” hometown crowd, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

It’s nothing personal against Koscheck, who served as the season 12 coach of “The Ultimate Fighter” series opposite of the 170-pound champion. Shields claims it’s business as usual, and that it’s GSP’s recognition in the sport that the former EliteXC welterweight champion is ultimately after, even if it mean’s enticing the Quebec crowd and fighting Georges in the UFC’s inaugural debut in Toronto, which is scheduled to take place sometime next year.

“I definitely plan on going up to Montreal and be watching to see who I’m fighting. Maybe I’ll pull a Koscheck and bash their hockey team or something like that,” Shields joked.

“There’s a possibility of me fighting him in Toronto in that big 50,000 seat arena or whatever it is. You might as well make them hate you like Koscheck’s done.”

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of Shields? Sound off in the comment section below.