Jake Shields to be a Free Agent, Will Consider UFC

[EmpireWF]

Shields will be a free agent after his 4/17 fight with Dan Henderson for his middleweight strap. Regardless of whether he's the champion or not, his contract with SF will come to an end.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/3/18/1380187/jake-shields-keeping-his-options

Shields is quoted as saying:

"I am happy with Strikeforce. They've given me big fights like I asked for, so I'm happy with them. But also, I do want big fights, and of course the UFC has a lot of big fights as well."

"I wanted to be a free agent, I haven't been a free agent in a couple of years, and I wanted the option of leaving Strikeforce. Not that I'm leaving Strikeforce; I just wanted the option... Right now, I can't really talk to other shows. It's in the contract. You can't talk any business. So I just want to be in a situation where I can look at my options and figure it out from there."

"I like Strikeforce, so as long as it's a good offer, and it looks like they're going to get some good opponents – I also want to fight top competition, so it's the combination of pay, exposure, and top competition. Those are the three things I'll make my decision off of."

 

[Liquidrob]

Trying to get a big contract, smart man

sidenote: going to be tough to negoiate with your head rolling around on the floor next to you

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I hope he beats Hendo, shows up on the next UFC show, and throws the Strikeforce title belt in a garbage can, while Mike Goldberg screams "Wait...who is that..is that who I think it is? He doesn't fight for the UFC! What is he doing here?!"