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Jake Shields - Why are you so boring?

6K views 40 replies 28 participants last post by  H33LHooK 
#1 ·
For me personally, I think Jake Shields is the most overrated fighter. He had a bunch of hype on him coming into the UFC, and even in his debut against Martin Kampmann I thought he lost that fight. Then lost 2 in a row to GSP and Ellenburger and then won 2 BORING decisions.

The guy trains with the Diaz brothers, but is the complete opposite of them. He is supposed to be the most feared submission guy but he hasn't picked up a submission win since 2009 back in Strikeforce. Kind of the same situation as Damien Maia.

I don't know.. just very frustrating. I like when guys come to FIGHT. It's like these submission specialists are having a more difficult time because top guys in their division are veterans and know how to defend against submissions..and since their striking is below average it makes for a lousy fight.

What do you think?
 
#3 ·
His fights aren't actually that bad.

Against Martin Kampmann- Not an exciting affair, but not a boring one either.
Against GSP- Can we really blame Shields for this one?
Against Ellenberger- Quick KO.
Against Akiyama- Watched the fight, but I don't really remember much of it. Should have been a boring one.
Against Herman- The first round was a bore, I admit. However, Herman was the one who initiated the clinch and basically did nothing there. Can't blame Shields for it. In the 2nd and 3rd round Shields got Herman down and obtained some dominant positions. Could see he was trying to finish Herman. Shields gets too much flak for this one.
 
#5 ·
For the amount of hype he had coming into the UFC, with the exception of GSP, He should have finished everyone of those flights.

It doesn't help with Rogan constantly telling us how jake shields is the most amazing fighter ever on the ground etc
 
#32 ·
...True. Shields has and always be a submission fighter. That's his bread & butter. His stand-up isn't exciting, it's effective enough to keep opponents at bay while he tries to get his hands on you. Jake is hard to finish but he has a predictable gameplan for fighters to know " Hey, don't let Jake get his hands on you or drag you to the ground". Jake may not be that exciting but he's always a threat to any fighter because of his top level submission game...
 
#6 ·
I havent enjoyed any of his fights I have seen. I thought he lost ot Akiyama even after a rewatch even though its razor thin. Kampman should of won that fight too. I just cant stand him. He does make people look incredibly awkward though. He stand up is so rudimentary it drives me crazy.
 
#9 ·
I just don't understand how a pro MMA fighter - and an "elite" one at that - can have such cringe worthy striking. It's like the guy is a complete retard on his feet, but he becomes a genius once the grappling starts.
The problem is that it's extremely hard to submit somebody who knows that that's all you're trying to do and is actively defending against it (at least at the professional level).
 
#11 ·
I don't know what's happened to Shields. Granted - he was never the most exciting fighter before his UFC stint, but at least back then he actually submitted guys and finished them.

Now he just seems to play every thing incredibly safe on the ground. Combine his safe ground game tactics with his god awful striking, he makes for a real bore to watch.
 
#16 ·
I try not to talk bad of fellow fighters but he is boring to me. I wouldn't say overrated because if he can get it to the ground he will control most fighters. He has the worst stand up of any big league fighter. He paws his punches, no power. But like I always say if you don't want to get molested or dry humped on the ground then the its up to the other fighter. Bottom line is it works for him just not easy to watch.

Sent from my USCCADR3305 using VerticalSports.Com App
 
#21 ·
Man I couldn't agree more. I was going to start the same topic myself, but you beat me to it.

Shields is officially the new UFC Blanket. I am so tired of these guys that are good enough to take you down and lay on top of you, but not good enough to do anything about it.
I just can't watch. It's so ******* boring and he is so hyped as some "Over the top world class submission specialist".

World Class Submission Specialist - Definition: Shitty striker that tries to clinch, then tries to take you down, then tries to advance position, then the round ends - rinse and repeat for 3 rounds. ******* boring ass shit.

Learn how to strike for gods sake. Then maybe you will be able to hurt someone, take them down and submit them, for real, like a real fighter.
 
#22 ·
Sorry for being so blunt, but this post and the ones similar to it on this thread irritate me. If you want to see stickily striking, go watch boxing, K1, or some other forum of kickboxing.

You are watching MIXED MARTIAL ARTS. So if you don't like grappling, don't watch it dude. I have nothing against you and I'm not trying to upset you either, but when you watch MMA some fights will have clinching and grappling, and if the guy's opponent can't get up and get out of a bad situation, tough luck.

Maybe ED shouldn't have initiated the clinching almost every round, and maybe he should have sprawled and brawled with Shields, instead of playing straight into Shield's strongest part of his game - which is grappling and clinch work.

But to be fair, I didn't find the fight super exciting but I still enjoyed the technique Shields used and if ED didn't have a strong submission defensive style, the fight would have ended with a guillotine or armbar in the first.
 
#23 ·
It really frustrates me watching Jake try to strike. I weigh 155 and I think i'd beat him in a Kickboxing match (no thai, he'd be too strong in the clinch). That comment obviously means nothing as i'm on an internet forum and sounds like i'm just bragging but anybody that has trained a striking art for a decent amount of time should watch Jake and think.. "WTF?"

The guy has been doing MMA for like 12 years or something now and he still doesn't have any idea how to strike. I don't even know how that's possible, surely he's been training striking as long as he's been in MMA.

If John Doe went to a Muay Thai class once per week for 12 years he would have better striking than Jake.

Sorry for the weird rant, I just don't get it.
 
#26 ·
I've been watching Shields since long before he came to Strikeforce or UFC and have to say I've never considered the guy a great "submission specialist." A great grappler, sure, but he doesn't go for submissions that often or that aggressively. He grabs them when they present themselves (like Lawler shoving his head into a guillotine) but for the most part seems content with top control.

And yes, he is a boring fighter.
 
#31 ·
The thing that is most annoying is Jake knows he can clinch and out work 90% of his opponents and he knows he has a rock solid chin. So surely that means he should have the confidence to work for a finish on the ground.
He used to be more agressive in Elite XC and STRIKEFORCE I think like lots of other fighters who have been been around the block he is so desperate to stay in the UFC he wont take any risks.
 
#37 ·
I think this is a really good point, do you think because of Dana's three strike policy it makes fighters more cautious? Especially as Shields was 1-2 in his last three fights before going into the Herman bout he was maybe playing it ultra-safe to get a 2nd win in a row under his belt. Hopefully now with him being on a two fight win streak(if you can call it that) and being at his more comfortable middleweight we'll get to see the best of Jake.
 
#35 ·
Shields is getting a lot of shit for this fight, but I'd like to point out that he had Herman's back in the first, with both hooks in, and Herman simply used the fence to pull himself up.

I think fence grabs should be legal, I believe the only rules that should exist in the octagon are ones that prevent major injuries and long-term damage, but right now fence grabs are illegal. And Herman probably saved himself from an early submission with an illegal defense.
 
#38 ·
jake only guys for the safest submission possible, anything that allows him to maintain control, that is what makes him boring. he has a great control game but beyond that there's not much there. it makes you wonder what would happen if he ever got a shot at silva or the top of the division
 
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