Jake Shields update

[Dreadlord]

Despite published reports that Jake Shields will return on Sept. 20 to defend his newly won EliteXC welterweight title against John Alessio, MMAWeekly.com has confirmed with Shields himself that the fight has been offered, but is far from a done deal.

“That fight might happen, but it’s not 100%, not finalized yet,” said Shields in an interview with MMAWeekly.com on Thursday.

The other interesting note to this report is that Shields is currently fielding an offer from an outside promotion to have him compete in a show at 185 pounds against a top contender, but as of now he is still waiting on approval from EliteXC to take the fight.

“Right now I have a really good offer on the table to fight a top 185-pounder,” Shields stated. “I’m just waiting, hoping Elite (XC) will give me that opportunity to go out there and represent Elite and test myself.

“Alessio, he’s a good opponent, (but) it’s a fight that doesn’t really excite me though unfortunately. I’m not too motivated about it, but he’s one dangerous guy that you’ve got to watch out for. He’s a really difficult guy to fight, hard to take down, good stand-up, but if that’s the fight I end up taking, I’ll get myself motivated and pumped up to go do it, but right now I’m really excited about the other fight. I think it’s good for my career and I hope (Elite XC) will realize it too, that it’s not bad for their show, that it helps push me further.”

Coming off the win that crowned him champion in July, Shields also said that the timeline to take the fight against Alessio on Sept. 20 is a little earlier than what he had anticipated for his next fight.

“It’s a little sooner than I wanted. I just started training again. It’s a little bit of a short training cycle, but I guess I’m already in pretty good shape,” he said. “I wanted to have a little bit more time to chill, but also the other fight is a fight I’ve wanted to fight for a while and I think it will be a big fight, so hopefully EliteXC will let me give the opportunity to test myself.”

Shields did not mention the opponent or the other promotion that was vying for his services at this time.

As for Alessio, in his most recent fight he suffered a broken forearm that was described as similar to UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture’s injury following his fight with Gabriel Gonzaga in August 2007. While the injury is reportedly healing as expected, the time for Alessio to train for a title fight only five weeks away may hinder the chances of accepting a fight on Sept. 20.

[Dreadlord]

John Alessio: I'm not facing Jake Shields at Sept. 20 EliteXC event

Despite recent reports of EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields (21-4-1) defending his title on EliteXC's Sept. 20 card against John Alessio (23-11), the potential challenger today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) he will not be ready in time for the Albuquerque, N.M. event.

Alessio was recently forced to take time off from training after suffering a broken arm in a June victory over veteran Pete Spratt. Now the Xtreme Couture fighter feels it imperative to allow ample time for a full recovery.

"Sept. 20 is the date [EliteXC] brought up (for a bout with Shields), and that's just too soon for my arm," Alessio said. "I had surgery on [my arm] three days after the fight (with Spratt). I had a cast on it for a little while. Now I'm out of it, and I'm back in training.

"But I had to take five weeks off. Getting ready for a five-round fight by Sept. 20 is too much."

Not that Alessio wouldn't relish the opportunity to face Shields.

"I'm a hundred percent in to fight Shields," Alessio said. "I just need a little bit longer. If EliteXC can make it happen on the Oct. 4 show, then it's a go. I just don't know what EliteXC's plan is."

Additionally, though ongoing rumors have been circling for weeks that Alessio's signing with EliteXC was a done deal, the 29-year-old said the contract is not yet official.

"I signed [the contract]," Alessio said. "I just don't think we've handed it in. I think my managers are holding on to it to wait to find out what's going on.

"To be honest, I'm not one hundred percent sure. We're still talking as far as I know."

Despite the questions currently surrounding the bout, Alessio is hopeful a deal can soon be reached.

"I hope [EliteXC] can make it happen Oct. 4 because then I'm in," Alessio said. "It would be a big honor to fight for the EliteXC title -- especially against such a great champion.

"It could be a fun fight."

[LatsMcGee]

The rumors are Shields v. Lindland at Affliction 2.  I like that fight.

[Dreadlord]

The rumors are Shields v. Lindland at Affliction 2.  I like that fight.

Yeah- that would be interesting.

[Logan32]

The rumors are Shields v. Lindland at Affliction 2.  I like that fight.

That is a real interesting match up. I would really like to see it happen

[MindSpin]

I pick Lindlnad.

[TheIronWarrior]

I'm picking Shields if that fight goes down.