Shields vs Riggs At Strikeforce
by Robert Sargent
In another blockbuster fight for their upcoming April 11th event, Strikeforce has announced a welterweight contest pitting final EliteXC Welterweight Champion Jake Shields against former UFC star Joe "Diesel" Riggs, with major title implications.
The bout's outcome is expected to determine one half of a future Strikeforce Welterweight Championship bout, as the promotion looks to establish new champions.
Shields (22-4-1) has won 11 straight fights. Perhaps more impressively, he has shed his past reputation for not being able to finish fights by stopping his last seven opponents. Though his striking is still a work in progress, Shields is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and possesses ground skills that rival anyone in the welterweight division.
Shields already holds huge wins over the likes of Japanese legend and current DREAM star Hayato "Mach" Sakurai, former UFC Middleweight Champion Dave Menne, current UFC Middleweight title contender Yushin "Thunder" Okami and final WEC Welterweight Champion "The Natural Born Killer" Carlos Condit. Shields went 4-0 in EliteXC, with wins over Renato Verissimo, Mike "Quicksand" Pyle, Nick "The Goat" Thompson and Paul "Semtex" Daley.
Riggs (29-10-0, 1 NC), on the other hand, is a striker who has only gone to a decision three times in 40 fights. He has 27 stoppage victories, with 21 wins coming by way of knockout or submission due to strikes. His punching power is among the top of the welterweight division, and a victory over Shields could vault Riggs back into contention for a major world title.
Riggs holds wins over the likes of TUF winner Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove, former WEC Middleweight title challenger Joe Doerksen, Chris "Lights Out" Lytle and Nick Diaz. Though he missed weight for his scheduled UFC Welterweight Championship bout with Matt Hughes at UFC 56 - and lost by submission in round one - Riggs is a dangerous opponent for anyone in the division, and he will possess a tremendous advantage in striking over Shields.
There's no secret to this contest, in that Shields will be looking to take the fight to the ground while Riggs will seek to keep the fight standing. Riggs is no slouch on the ground, but Shields's wrestling and jiu-jitsu should easily allow him to secure a submission or a clear-cut decision victory. By contrast, if Shields tries to strike with Riggs for too long, it'll be lights out and Riggs will be the one moving on to compete for a title.
Strikeforce's upcoming event will air live on Showtime on April 11th.
