Shields Wants to Be a Division Jumper

Jake Shields wants to keep paving his way in two Strikeforce divisions if the promotion will allow it.

“I fight because I want to keep myself interested and challenged… It’s really exciting for me to bounce between the two weights,” said Shields at the promotion’s pre-fight conference Thursday.

Shields, a former EliteXC welterweight champion, faces Jason "Mayhem" Miller for the vacated Strikeforce middleweight title this Saturday at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. The bout will also air during CBS’s “Saturday Night Fights” presentation beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

The 30-year-old jiu-jitsu black belt became a middleweight prospect after submitting former EliteXC middleweight champion Robbie Lawler in the first round of a 182-pound catch-weight bout for Strikeforce in June.

Whether he wins Saturday or not, Shields said he plans to take on at least one more challenger at 185 pounds, then revisit the welterweight division if the right fight presents itself.

“Right now I’m only interested about going up and staying up, but who knows what the future holds,” he said. “I’ll take it one fight at a time, but most likely I’m probably going to fight at 185 (next) since my weight’s kind of up right now ‘cause you don’t want to drop back down (and then up again). Right now, I’m just worried about getting through Miller and we’ll see what happens from there.”

For now, Strikeforce officials have not chimed in with any opposition to Shields’ dual aspirations, but a title win Saturday could change that.

“That’s a Monday conversation,” said Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker on Thursday.