Shields released by Strikeforce

[Ludo]

Re: Shields released by Strikeforce

And how does he beat Vitor and Marquardt exactly? Having some of the most piss poor striking I've ever seen isn't going to do him any favors against two guys who are much bigger than he is, one of which has some of the fastest hands in the sport while the other has crushing strikes and both have a better than average sprawl.

3 guys with one punch power, good hands, and a good sprawl:

Robbie Lawler
Dan Henderson
Paul Daley

Not a one of those guys is as big as Nate Marquardt or Vitor Belfort either. Come fight night these guys are walking into the cage at 200lbs or more for a Middleweight fight. He is much more suited to competing at Welterweight in the UFC. The odds are better and the playing field is more even except for Rumble and Alves.

As far as the Tito fight that was Five years ago. Vitor is a much more complete fighter now than he was then.

[MMA_scientist]

Re: Shields released by Strikeforce

Let us not forget he almost got finished in the first minute of that fight with Henderson. I don't see him taking Marquardt down like Sonnen (R-Or) did, he's nowhere near Sonnens level in wrestling and Marquardt is much bigger than Dan Henderson. I'm not selling Shields short but he simply is not big enough to hang with most of these UFC Middleweights who walk around at 200lbs+ with good sprawling abilities. I'm sorry but he just is not explosively athletic enough to catch them with any kind of consistency. Dan Henderson was gassed out as of the end of the first round when he fought Shields(I'm not saying that would have made alot of difference, but the takedown wouldn't have seemed so effortless otherwise). I have said before Henderson has a tendency to get taken down by over committing to throwing strikes, however he started to get desperate when he was down 2 and 3 rounds and getting mounted each time which may have also played a factor to him being taken down while hoping for the hail mary punch.

I thought he was putting up a good effort on the takedown defense even in the 5th round... Shields was just death gripping his legs and wasn't going to give up on it.

I think Henderson has far better takedown defense than Nate. I would also say Dan is as big or bigger than Nate. Dan has been at 205 a lot. He was the Pride champ at 205 and fought for the UFC belt at 205. He is big as hell for a MW.


As for his athleticism... he has proven that he can take guys down. He beat 3 very dangerous strikers with sprawls. I don't know what else to tell you... he finds a way to get it down.

We don't have to agree... but acting like it is crazy to think that Shields would beat Nate and Vitor is selling Jake short- it is totally viable.

Vitor has been beaten by wrestlers his entire career- Dan Henderson beat him. Tito, Rand x2, Dan, Sak...

Nate had a close fight with Thales and Thales took him down with a shot as well. Thales even mounted him at one point. His takedown defense is good, but not great.

[Luke]

Re: Shields released by Strikeforce

Dana White is signing a Strikeforce reject.

lol thats funny poopoo

[Luke]

Re: Shields released by Strikeforce

Personally I dont think Shields will be top 5 at 170 or 185 in the UFC. His striking is so bad imo that he'll never be at the top. I think Hendo being fat and out of shape did alot more for Shields beating him than talent

[Luke]

Re: Shields released by Strikeforce

And how does he beat Vitor and Marquardt exactly? Having some of the most piss poor striking I've ever seen isn't going to do him any favors against two guys who are much bigger than he is, one of which has some of the fastest hands in the sport while the other has crushing strikes and both have a better than average sprawl.

I agree with Ludo .I cant see Shields beating guys that are bigger than him and have beating striking

[Ludo]

Re: Shields released by Strikeforce

Henderson has always been very small at 205, hell when he fought Vitor he weighed in at 196lbs! His natural weight is in the 180's somewhere, he is alot like BJ Penn when he moved to Welterweight except Henderson had a bit more and prolonged success. He made up for his lack of natural size mostly with his skillset. His right hand is like a skud missile with a brick on the end of it coupled with his high level Greco Roman Wrestling afforded him alot of leeway in a time when few had an answer for elite level greco. Hell few have an answer for it even now, even Randy Couture at 47 years old is still winning with it.

[Svino]

Re: Shields released by Strikeforce

And how does he beat Vitor and Marquardt exactly? Having some of the most piss poor striking I've ever seen isn't going to do him any favors against two guys who are much bigger than he is, one of which has some of the fastest hands in the sport while the other has crushing strikes and both have a better than average sprawl.

I agree with Ludo .I cant see Shields beating guys that are bigger than him and have beating striking

Aw come on, bigger than him and better at striking? That's basically every fighter in the world at MW.

[Luke]

Re: Shields released by Strikeforce

Aw come on, bigger than him and better at striking? That's basically every fighter in the world at MW.

Ok let me add in top 5