Shields, Champion and Underdog

Forty-eight hours out from his first title defense this Saturday, Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields is the clear-cut underdog on every major betting site.

The 31-year-old Shields, who faces former UFC top-five middleweight and recent Strikeforce acquisition Dan Henderson at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., doesn’t see himself as much of a longshot, though.

“I think the odds should be pretty close when you look back at our records, who we’ve fought, our only shared opponent,” said Shields on Thursday. “When you look at all the factors, I think it should be a really close fight, maybe a slight advantage to him because he’s coming in as the bigger fighter, but I’m not bothered by it at all. The bookies and the people betting make the odds, so there’s no reason to be mad at that.”

Still, Shields said he understood why he wasn’t getting the nod over Henderson, who looks to have a weight and experience advantage on his side.

“I’m fine. It’s not like he’s coming in from nowhere,” said Shields. “He’s been champion of other organizations, so I’m OK with that. I like being the underdog. It takes the pressure off when I go out there. I’ve got more game.”

Of the three championship bouts to air live this Saturday on CBS, fans might consider Shields-Henderson the most predictable to call. A lot of this has to do with fighting styles and preferences. Shields, a crafty Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, hasn’t shown a propensity for standup trades, while Henderson, a two-time Olympic wrestler, has had repeated success ending things neatly with his fists.

The 39-year-old Henderson is coming off a dynamic second-round knockout of Brit Michael Bisping at UFC 100 last July. Shields opted not to stand with Jason “Mayhem” Miller, grinding him into the canvas for five rounds last November to earn the promotion’s vacant title. Strategies seem fairly obvious for Saturday.

“Either I want to be on top or on my feet with him. I don’t think there’s any secret to either one of our game plans,” said Henderson on Thursday.

Shields agreed.

“I want to put him on his back and submit him. He knows that. I know that. It’s matter of who can get their game off… If I can’t (put him on his back), it’s going to be a tough fight for me.”

When comparing records, Henderson’s resume is arguably meatier. The only fighter ever to hold two titles for Pride Fighting Championships simultaneously, Henderson has bested former Pride champion Wanderlei Silva, former UFC titleholders Rich Franklin and Murilo Bustamante, and owns an early career win against former Pride and UFC champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Henderson’s bouts have all ranged between middleweight and heavyweight.

Shields’ more notable victims have included UFC veterans Yushin Okami, Carlos Condit, Mike Pyle and former EliteXC middleweight champion Robbie Lawler. A majority of those bouts were fought at 170 pounds.

Shields will complete the last fight of his contract with Strikeforce on Saturday and there is the added pressure to make a good showing. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said re-negotiations would begin after the bout and would surely hinge on outcome and performance.

“I don’t think about that too much, but I guess, of course, there is (pressure),” said Shields. “If I go out there and perform good, go out there and knock Dan Henderson out, or something, of course, it’s going to be a factor (in re-negotiations),” he said.

The oddsmakers might not be in his corner, but Shields knows he doesn’t need them to come out on top on Saturday.

“In my mind, no, (I’m not the underdog),” said Shields. “I think I’m going to win this fight. I feel confident; I feel like it’s my fight to win. I’m thinking about going and putting some money on myself.”