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Jake Shields
American mixed martial artist (born 1979) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jake Shields (born January 9, 1979) is an American mixed martial artist, podcaster and far-right commentator. As a mixed martial artist, he was the last Rumble on the Rock Welterweight Champion, the only Elite XC Welterweight Champion, a former Shooto Welterweight Champion and former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. He also fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) challenging Georges St. Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Championship. After his loss to Akira Kikuchi, he won 15 consecutive fights over six years until his loss to UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre. He described his style as "American Jiu-Jitsu".[3]
Shields hosts the Fight Back podcast. He has expressed far-right views on social media, including antisemitism, Holocaust denial and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.[4]
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Early life
Shields was raised near Mountain Ranch, California, in the Sierra Nevada. He was a varsity wrestler at Calaveras High School. He was also a junior college wrestler from Cuesta College.[citation needed] In 2001, Shields received a wrestling scholarship to San Francisco State University. He finished in 3rd place at the ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship in 2005.
Shields has developed a style of fighting called "American Jiu-Jitsu", which he has tattooed on his forearm.[5][better source needed]
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Mixed martial arts
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Shields is perhaps best known[citation needed] for his 15-fight winning streak, finishing eight of his eleven opponents before being defeated by UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in a hard-fought five round battle at UFC 129. Shields has captured the Shooto World Mixed Martial Arts Championship and the Rumble on the Rock World Championship. He submitted Nick Thompson via guillotine choke in a bout for the Elite XC Welterweight Championship.[6][7]
At Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields he fought EliteXC's last middleweight champion and former two-time ICON Sport middleweight champion at a catchweight of 182 pounds (83 kg). Lawler took the center of the cage and looked comfortable on his feet. Robbie Lawler said in the post fight interview, "His striking was good. He threw a lot of kicks. He worked. He threw hands and wasn't shying away from standup, that's for sure." Two minutes into the first round, Shields pounced and secured a guillotine choke to finish his opponent via submission at 2:02 of the first round.[8]
At Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers he fought Jason 'Mayhem' Miller for the vacant Strikeforce Middleweight Championship after Cung Le stepped down as champion to pursue his acting career. Shields defeated Miller via unanimous decision (48–47, 49–46, and 49–46).[citation needed]
Shields successfully defended his title, defeating former Pride World Welterweight and Pride Middleweight Champion Dan Henderson via unanimous decision on April 17, 2010, at Strikeforce: Nashville.[9]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Shields was spotted and shown on camera next to UFC President Dana White at the WEC 48 PPV. With Dana White saying, "He's mine!" and his arm around Shields, this fueled rumors of Shields signing with the UFC. Jake Shields stated in an interview that it was tough for Strikeforce to provide him with exciting fights and this would be a key aspect in his decision to stay or leave. Dana White also stated in this interview he would be willing to pay huge sums to strip away one of Strikeforce's champions.[10]
On June 30, Strikeforce released Shields from the organization during his contract renegotiation period. Shields then entered into talks with the UFC,[11] with his manager and father, Jack Shields, stating that his son was eager to fight against top UFC fighters, such as Anderson Silva.[12] In July 2010, it was reported that Shields was close to signing a deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship to compete in the promotion's Welterweight division.[13]
Shields made his UFC debut against Martin Kampmann on October 23, 2010, at UFC 121.[14] Prior to Shields's UFC debut, Dana White stated that, if Shields defeated Martin Kampmann, he was most likely next in line for an opportunity to compete for the UFC Welterweight Championship.[15] After Shields defeated Kampmann via split decision, White confirmed that Shields would receive a title shot against the winner of the Georges St-Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck fight at UFC 124.[16]
Georges St-Pierre won his UFC 124 bout against Josh Koscheck. Shields fought St-Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Championship on April 30, 2011, at UFC 129 in Toronto. Shields lost via unanimous decision.[17]
Shields faced Jake Ellenberger on September 17, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 25, losing via first-round TKO.[citation needed]
Shields faced Yoshihiro Akiyama on February 26, 2012, at UFC 144, winning via unanimous decision.[18]
Shields returned to the middleweight division and faced Ed Herman on August 11, 2012, at UFC 150.[19] He won the bout via unanimous decision. On October 12, 2012, it was announced that Jake Shields had failed his drug test at UFC 150 and he was subsequently fined and suspended.[20] The result of the fight was overturned to a No Contest.[21] In January 2015 Shields said the failed test was due to a banned diuretic.[22]
Shields faced Tyron Woodley in a welterweight bout on June 15, 2013, at UFC 161.[23] The bout was contested on the feet for nearly its entirety in a largely uneventful fight where neither fighter was able to deliver any significant offense. Shields defeated Woodley via split decision.[24]
Shields next faced Demian Maia on October 9, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 29.[25] As expected, the contest between the two decorated jiu jitsu practitioners took place mostly on the ground, and Shields won via split decision.[26]
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Shields fought Héctor Lombard on March 15, 2014, at UFC 171. Shields lost the fight via unanimous decision.[citation needed]
On April 6, 2014, it was announced that Shields was released from the promotion.[27]
After his release from the UFC, the outspoken and often candid president of the organization, Dana White, had this to say about Shields: "We look at everything. Everything. Money has something to do with it. I'd be lying if I said it didn't. But that wasn't the only reason or the main reason. It was a part of the piece of the puzzle as we were doing our evaluation of him. Mixed martial arts is a young man's game. I like Jake Shields a lot. But let's be honest here: Where was he going in this [welterweight] division of animals we have? He's on the downswing, and he's never going to be the guy. His stand-up never improved. He hasn't really shown anything in his last couple of fights to make you go, 'Holy [expletive].' Right now, at this point, he's just another guy."[28]
World Series of Fighting
In April 2014, Shields signed a multi-fight deal with the World Series of Fighting.[29] Shields was expected to compete at WSOF 11 on July 5, 2014, against Jon Fitch. Shields was forced out of the bout due to a shoulder injury.[30]
Shields made his debut for World Series of Fighting at WSOF 14 on October 11, 2014, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada against WSOF Canadian Welterweight Champion Ryan Ford.[31] He won the fight via submission in the first round.[citation needed]
In his second fight for the promotion, Shields faced Brian Foster in the main event at WSOF 17 on January 17, 2015. He again won the fight via submission in the first round.[citation needed]
Shields faced Rousimar Palhares on August 1, 2015, at WSOF 22.[32] He lost the fight by submission due to a kimura, marking his first loss by submission. This wasn't without controversy as Palhares repeatedly eye gouged Shields after several warnings from the ref, Palhares also held onto the submission well after Shields had tapped.[33] In response, Shields punched Palhares in the face after the fight was over, and attempted a kick which the referee blocked. Both Shields and Palhares were temporarily suspended by the NSAC after the fight.[citation needed]
Shields was lined up to face Jon Fitch for the vacant WSOF welterweight championship at WSOF 30 on April 1, 2016. Though they have never competed together in an MMA contest, Shields holds a victory over Fitch in a submission grappling match. The match was later canceled due to contract issues between Shields and the company.[citation needed]
On September 13, 2016, it was announced that Shields would challenge for the WSOF Welterweight Championship against Jon Fitch on November 12, 2016, at WSOF 34.[34] On October 17, 2016, it was announced that the fight was then rescheduled to take place on December 31, 2016, in the co-main event.[35] Shields lost the fight by unanimous decision.[citation needed]
Professional Fighters League
Shields made his PFL debut at PFL Everett on July 29, 2017, against Danny Davis Jr. He won the bout via unanimous decision.[36]
On July 5, 2018, Shields made his PFL season debut at PFL 3. Despite being a heavy favorite, he lost to Ray Cooper III via technical knockout in the second round.[37]
On August 16, 2018, Shields defeated Herman Terrado at PFL 6 via unanimous decision advancing to the playoffs.[38]
On October 20, 2018, Shields faced Ray Cooper III in a rematch at PFL 10.[39] He lost the fight via technical knockout in the first round to advance to the semifinals of the playoffs.[40]
Grappling events
On November 22, 2014, Shields fought Roberto Satoshi in a grappling match in Metamoris V. The fight ended in a draw.[citation needed]
On April 2, 2016, Shields then fought AJ Agazarm at Polaris 3. The match was controversial as it was plagued with eye gouges and strikes coming from both fighters.[41] At one point in the match Shields slapped Agazarm while both men were standing.[41] The fight ended in a draw.[42]
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Shields defeated Diego Sanchez in a grappling match at High Rollerz 4 on February 5, 2020.[43]
Political views and far-right activism
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According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Shields output promoted a range of positions including antisemitism, the Great Replacement theory and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.[44]
On December 28, 2022, following an online altercation between climate activist Greta Thunberg and influencer Andrew Tate, Shields suggested that Tate should give Thunberg a 'proper smashing' so that she abandons her 'crazy feminest/climate nonese' [sic]. Shields' comments were widely criticized as being derogatory and misogynistic.[45][46]
Jake Shields @jakeshieldsajjWould you support public executions of anyone who helps a child transition?
This would include doctors, therapists, teachers, guidance counselors, etc
April 26, 2023[47]
On April 25, 2023, Shields had addressed support via a tweet, which was later deleted for violating Twitter's terms of service, for the public executions of people who help a child transition their gender, and recommended that doctors, therapists, teachers, and guidance counselors be publicly executed for their assistance in helping the gender transitions of children.[48]
In September 2023, Shields supported the social media campaign to ban the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) from Twitter.[49] In March 2024, the ADL described him as an "antisemitic conspiracy theorist", after he claimed that Israel created the terrorist group ISIS.[50]
In 2023, Shields began promoting himself as a pro-Palestine activist, amassing followers on social media for his strongly anti-Israel rhetoric during the Gaza war. The ADL identified him as one of five key far right influencers on X who had used the conflict to gain an audience, whose combined follower count increased by over 1070% in the period, Shields reaching over 760,000 in late 2023.[44]
According to The Jerusalem Post, Shields voiced his support for Iran's April 2024 Missile attacks against Israel.[51]
Shields is also a proponent of Holocaust denial, saying in a post on X in February 2024: “I don’t think a single Jew died in gas chambers.”[4] One May 2024 post on X, according to the ADL, was viewed over 1.3 million times and has 21K likes and said that Jews control America, as Congress is “making it illegal to question Jewish power.”[44] Public Discourse alleged that "he has spread multiple blood libels with impunity".[52]
In June 2024, Shields and white supremacist activist Nick Fuentes were prevented from attending a conference of the right-wing Turning Point USA and instead attended a far-right rally in Detroit originally organized by Fuentes as the 2024 America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC), and also attended by Sulaiman Ahmed, an online influencer, and David Duke, former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.[53][44] Shields also hosted David Duke on his podcast and described him as a "nice old man".[54]
In March 2025, while hosting an Australian neo-nazi on his podcast, Shields praised Adolf Hitler and Nazi policies, claiming that Hitler 'wasn’t pushing hatred towards other races'. He also defended the Nazi book burnings, claiming they "were, like, tranny books and communist books".[55]
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Television and film
Jake Shields stars in and co-produced Fight Life, an award-winning documentary on the sport of MMA, the film is directed by James Z. Feng and released in 2013.[56] Shields appeared in three episodes of Bully Beatdown on MTV and MTV2 on April 12, 2009,[57] and a different episode on September 10.[58] Shields also served as a grappling coach for Chuck Liddell on The Ultimate Fighter 11,[59] and appeared on the Animal Planet channel for episodes of Wild Recon and Venom in Vegas.[60]
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Personal life
Shields has a daughter, born December 2000, and is a single father.[61] On August 29, 2011, Shields' father and manager, Jack Shields, died at age 67.[62]
Shields is a lifelong vegetarian. He appeared in both print and video ads for PETA, touting his vegetarian lifestyle.[63] Shields is critical of vaccines.[64]
On September 21, 2023, he failed to appear at an arraignment in a Nevada court. He was charged with misdemeanor battery related to an altercation between himself and Mike Jackson, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.[65]
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Championships and accomplishments
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2024) |
Amateur wrestling
- California Interscholastic Federation
- CIF State Championship Qualifier (1997)
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC.com Awards
- Strikeforce
- Strikeforce Middleweight Championship (One time)
- One successful title defense
- Elite Xtreme Combat
- EliteXC Welterweight Championship (One time; first; last)
- One successful title defense
- Professional Shooto Japan
- Shooto Welterweight Championship (One time)
- Rumble on the Rock
Submission grappling
- Abu Dhabi Combat Club
- 2005 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships - bronze medalist
- Fight 2 Win
- FTW Middleweight Championship (One time, current)[67]
- International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
- 2005 Pan American Championships - gold medalist
- International Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Federation
- 2007 Gracie Open Superfight champion
- Grapplers Quest
- Grapplers Quest Advance champion (three times)
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Mixed martial arts record
| 46 matches | 33 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 4 |
| By submission | 12 | 1 |
| By decision | 18 | 6 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
Submission grappling record
See also
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
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