After a month long absence, the UFC is back, with 129 in sold-out Toronto, home of UFC welterweight champion Georges St Pierre (GSP).
Possibly the best pound-for-pound fighter in MMA today, GSP will be put to the test when fighting Jake Shields in the main event of the evening, a former Strikeforce fighter who is on a 15-fight winning streak.
Graduating from the famous Cesar Gracie camp in wine valley San Francisco, Shields trains with current Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz and current Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, who both defended their belts at ‘Daley vs Diaz’ in early April.
Over the past three to four years Jake Shieldd has formed a new version of MMA called AJJ (American Jiu Jitsu) and has gone on to form his own academy in California.
Possessed with the skills to beat GSP, Shields has been written off due to his past two performance where he was lackluster in his unanimous decision wins over Dan Henderson and Martin Kampmann.
GSP on the other hand has been dominant in his fights, not losing a round in his past eight wins and not looking in any trouble whatsoever. With sparring partners like Joe Stevenson, Jon Jones, Keith Jardine and trainers like Winklejohn and Greg Jackson, I am sure the focus has been on wrestling and takedown defense.
Although GSP hasn’t fought anyone with a better ground game than Shields, my pick here is that GSP will once again win a unanimous five-round decision in front of a record breaking 55,000 Canadians.
I have talked a lot about the Main Event here but be sure to watch the co-main event featuring UFC Featherweight champion Jose Aldo, defending his belt against UFC/WEC veteran Mark Hominick. The hot favourite here is Aldo, looking to retain his belt and secure his place in the top five pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
And one more thing, don’t miss UFC Hall of Famer Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture when he faces the tough task of stopping the motivated Lyoto ‘The Dragon’ Machida, who is primed for a win after coming back from the only two losses of his career.
I can’t wait for Sunday!
Cookie
Roar Rookie
Nice prediction, I think we all pretty much got it right when talking about GSP winning be decision. You also have to remember Shields has an iron jaw- if you haven't watched the Dan Henderson v Jake Shields fight do yourself a favour.....
damos_x
Guest
I haven't seen Shields in action but by all accounts he is very good & will be a difficult opponent for GSP. Having said that I believe the main concern for GSP is just how much nervous energy he burns up & it sounds like he will have to 'make' the fight as Shields looks for the take-down & avoids the strikes, whereas GSP will be expected to strike & avoid the take-downs or at least control it when/if it happens. All in all there seems real potential for an upset win by submission for Shields & I'd have to say he will not want it to go the distance as GSP will definitely score more from the striking if he can maintain his feet so Shields will need to take him down & make it count when he does. GSP is not really a knockout striker but who knows what happens when they're throwing them so it seems he will have more chance of the KO than Shields but again, Serra caught GSP & he wasn't a striker either. My tip is GSP by unanimous decision but i hope for him to win by KO/TKO inside 3 rds.
Jerry
Guest
GSP may just choose to keep it on his feet like he did against Koscheck. Shields is no real threat with his striking and GSP seems to play it very safe these days. It may end up being another 5 round jab-a-thon.
Christopher McKay
Guest
GSP is a supreme athlete and will have something up his sleeve. Expect to see something like more striking from him early. If that does not work he will go to the ground later on which is his plan B.
Cookie
Roar Rookie
Fixed, thanks mate!
brother fesol
Guest
GSP has never finished anyone since matt hughes. He is a control fighter. If it goes to rounds GSP generally wins. It will be interesting to see how he approaches this fight. Shields is great on the ground but the ground and pound of gsp could wear him out. Should be a classic fight. Gotta love the natural, he is a true hall of famer of the sport.
Cookie
Roar Rookie
Good point, BJ went from amateur to world champ in 3 years. I think this is going to be someone much heavier on the ground as BJ is a LW fighter and Shields has been competing as a middleweight throughout most of his career. GSP is going to have a bigger frame on him if Shields takes him down... if. Now that you say it wouldn't mind seeing Shields VS BJ if Shields loses this fight
Pete
Guest
GSP has never fought anyone better on the ground that Jake Shields? Other than BJ Penn, a man who won the mundials as a black belt after about three years of training. BJ Penn and GSP had three absolute wars together, does everyone just forget that?
Cookie
Roar Rookie
Apologies, shows my knowledge of Canada :)
chris
Guest
Montreal??? Try Toronto! . Montreal isn't even in the same province.