Shields Unsure of Title Shot, Anticipating Next UFC Bout Regardless

Before Jake Shields’ promotional debut Saturday at UFC 121, Dana White had suggested he was next in line for a welterweight title shot if he got past Martin Kampmann.

Shields did, winning a split decision in what was far from one of his best performances. White criticized him for struggling to make weight, but he also praised him for gutting out the victory. The UFC president did not confirm, however, that Shields would get the next 170-pound title shot after Josh Koscheck challenges Georges St. Pierre on Dec. 11.

“I’m still, at this point, not 100-percent sure,” Shields said of getting the shot during an episode of “The Savage Dog Show” on the Sherdog Radio Network. “I know Dana’s made it sound like it’s a good chance it’s still happening, but I don’t know until it’s signed. Right now I’m just back to the gym, doing my thing. If they want me to fight for the title, I’ll happily do that. If not, I’ll fight whoever they want me to fight.”

After clearly winning the first round, Shields faded in the second and third. He attributes his fatigue to mishandling the cut to 170, which involved losing 20 pounds in one day.

“I was being stupid,” he said. “I misjudged some things. I misjudged the weight cut coming down. I made a lot of mistakes, but at least I learned from it with Martin before I fight for a title shot. Definitely I plan on learning from the mistakes and coming back a lot stronger.”

In particular, Shields, who had been fighting at 185 pounds in Strikeforce, believes he was leaner than he realized. He had anticipated the weight coming off quicker, and when it didn’t, fight week became especially stressful.

“It was a lot of pressure, a good opponent. … By far the most media [obligations] I’ve ever seen, the most fans, the most attention,” Shields said. “The UFC’s without a doubt the biggest show. I’ve fought [in] big shows, but there’s a huge jump up in the UFC.”

Before his next UFC bout, Shields plans on running more to lose some muscle and ease the weight cut.

“It’s just a matter of getting my weight down a little more so I don’t go out there and look like crap in a title fight,” Shields said. “The way I fought the other night, I don’t feel like I would have won a title that night. But I do feel like it’s something I’m capable of doing. I just felt like I wasn’t myself that night.”

In the end, he made the weight and he got the win. Now the question is whether he’ll get the title shot.

“If I didn’t make weight, I’d have probably lost that title shot,” Shields said. “I made sure to come in there and make it. I’m not that happy with my performance overall, but I am happy I won. I’m ready to move forward and have a better second fight in the UFC.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:02:00) with Shields, who also discussed the upcoming Georges St. Pierre-Josh Koscheck title fight.