The Weekly Wrap: June 26 - July 2

Shields a Free Agent

Strikeforce confirmed it had released its reigning middleweight champion, Jake Shields, after his contract expired. Shortly after his April 17 win over Dan Henderson, Shields entered a period in which Strikeforce was entitled to match any other offer he received.

Shields’ father, Jack, told Sherdog.com he had submitted an asking price to the UFC this week in an effort to produce a bid that could be brought to Strikeforce. The promotion announced Shields’ release before it reached that stage. The Wrestling Observer reported that the feeling internally at Strikeforce was that it was not going to meet the UFC offer and that Shields had not become enough of a drawing card to justify a bidding war.

The UFC has expressed interest in Shields, with UFC President Dana White in public statements all but guaranteeing he was coming to the promotion. Jack Shields said his son -- who has held the EliteXC welterweight and Strikeforce middleweight belts -- is interested in fighting at middleweight in the UFC. He wants to challenge Anderson Silva, considering welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre is tied up filming “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 and building toward a fight against Josh Koscheck in December.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show the promotion was exploring a four-, eight- or 16-man tournament to determine a new middleweight champion.