Originally Posted by MMAJunkie

Jake Shields targets Nick Thompson for EliteXC title fight


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EliteXC's first-ever welterweight champion will be determined in July, when the organization returns to the CBS airwaves. Veterans Jake Shields (20-4-1) and Nick Thompson (36-9-1), each riding impressive win streaks, will square off for the belt.

Shields can't wait.

After all, he hand picked his opponent.

Shields discussed the events leading up to the bout on a recent edition of TAGG Radio (
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), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (
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"I'm really excited about this fight," Shields said. "I think we're both, me and Nick, right at the top of our group. We're both on a huge win streak. This is the fight I asked for."

The title fight takes place July 26 at the Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif. Shields expected to fight on the nationally televised event, but he didn't initially expect Thompson to be his opponent.

Shields had long been planning to face UFC veteran Drew Fickett for the belt. Strangely, however, Fickett pulled out of a scheduled June date with Shields due to injury, only to compete in a smaller organization around the same time.

"It's kind of weird," Shields said. "I don't know what happened. I know I was supposed to fight him on the 14th (of June), and on the 7th he fought someone else. I think it was (a) really easy (fight) on the 7th. ... Obviously it was a stupid move. I don't know what he was thinking. That EliteXC would just be like, 'no big deal?' Obviously they weren't happy if they dropped his contract."

At that point, Shields identified Thompson as the fighter he'd like to see take Fickett's place.

"When I found out Fickett pulled out, the first thing, like any other, we're looking around, (and) they asked me if I had any other ideas," Shields said. "Nick Thompson came right to mind. It's funny; I'd just read an article a couple days before Drew pulled out, and [Thompson] called me out in the article, and I'm like, 'Perfect. Nick's on a big winning streak. He's asking to fight me. Let's bring in Nick.'"

Of course Shields didn't target Thompson as an easy victory. "The Goat" has won 12 straight fights, as well as 20 of his past 21, dating back to 2005. Shields said he wants to continue to test himself against the best in the sport.

"I think it's an all-around great fight," Thompson said. "I'm excited for it. I want to fight good guys. That's why I asked for him. I saw him as the toughest guy I could fight, other than a couple of the guys in the UFC – (Georges) St. Pierre and (Jon) Fitch and stuff. That's why I asked for him, so we'll see what happens."

Shields, a winner of nine bouts in a row, will be returning to action for the first time since November 2007. A shoulder injury sidelined the 29-year-old for the first part of the year, but Shields insists the injury will not play a factor in the fight.

"[My shoulder] took longer than I wanted for it to heal," Shields said. "I ended up being hurt for about three months with that thing. (I'm) finally back to 100 percent, and I'm training full-on and I'm ready to fight."

A nine-year veteran, Shields has compiled several notable wins in his career. The WEC's Carlos Condit, UFC contender Yushin Okami and Japanese legend Hayato "Mach" Sakurai have all fallen victim to Shields' self-described "American jiu-jitsu" style.

And while Shields has remained but a small blip on most people's radar of the very deep welterweight division, a win in July could help the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fighter further establish himself in the public's eye. For Shields, the competition is worth more than the notoriety.

"I want to fight the best," Shields said. "That's why I'm out there fighting."