Fighters have many tough decisions to make during their careers,from choosing their coaches and managers to picking opponents andselecting the organization for which they want to compete. However,no decision is more difficult for a professional prizefighter thandetermining when the journey is over. Longtime welterweight starJakeShields is currently at this crucial crossroads.
“After 19 years, I still do love this sport,” he told Sherdog.com,“and I feel like I can beat a lot of top guys.”
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Despite his passion for MMA being as strong as ever, Shieldsremains unsure about whether or not he should continue on with hisjourney. For many, the impetus to contemplate retirement oftencomes from a series of unfortunate events. In the fight game, thatusually materializes in the form of a long losing streak. Yetduring his 46-fight career, Shields has suffered back-to-backdefeats only twice. What has him pondering an exit is a 3-4 runsince 2015. His last two losses have come at the high-powered handsof Ray CooperIII. He lost to the Hawaiian in his Professional Fighters League regular-season debut and againduring their rematch in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. Thelosses were crushing, as Shields was discarded by his 25-year-oldopponent the same way in both fights: Cooper stopped him withsecond-round punches on July 5 and put him away in the first roundof their rematch.
“I knew he was a tough fight,” Shields said. “It was going to beone of those fights where if I get him down I can submit him, butif he hits me with some of those shots, he’s capable of knocking meout.”
Heading into their PFL 10 rematch, the 39-year-old Shields citedback issues he endured throughout the season and early mistakes intheir first bout as evidence he could do better the next time.However, despite being healthier and better prepared, the resultwas the same. It was plain now: Cooper was just the superiorfighter.
“I went in there a 100 percent healthy and still lost. [Cooper’s]talented,” Shields said. “He’s one of those rare guys that hascrazy speed and power. I think the kid has a bright future. Losingto him sucks, but at least I’m losing to someone I have a feelingis going to go far in the sport.”
Emotions can run high following a setback, especially when afighter starts to see the finish line. “After the fight I was like,‘Yeah, I’m done,’ because I really wanted to get to the finals,”Shields said. However, the cerebral veteran knew it was not thetime for rash decisions. He did not want to put himself in what heviews as an awkward position of retiring and then walking back themove. “You see a lot of guys do that. That’s a little bitembarrassing if you’re retiring and unretiring. You have toreevaluate. Do I just accept I’ve done quite a bit [in the sport]?It sucks to go out on a loss, but most [fighters] do. Do you go outand try and do one or two more [fights]? That’s the situation I amlooking at right now.”
As Shields assesses the next chapter in his MMA career, financeswill only represent a small component of his decision. For somefighters, the income prizefighting offers is often their bestoption to continue the life of comfort to which they have grownaccustomed. Others may have mismanaged their bank account and needto fight just to provide for themselves and their families.Although he enjoys the large sums of money that come after a fight,Shields is not in a position where he needs to continue in thesport for financial gain.
“Everyone likes to make a big chunk of cash, but luckily, I do have[other sources of income],” he said. “I’ve saved quite a bit, putmoney in investments and I have other things I can do. I’m not in asituation where I’m desperate for money. It’s a factor, but it’snot the biggest factor.”
As he reflects on his career and delves further into the grapplingside of combat sports to satisfy his competitive nature, Shields isat peace with what he has done during his two-decade run.
“I fought for 19 years, so it gets really tough to look past beinga fighter,” he said, “but I also feel like I’ve accomplished a lotin this sport. [I haven’t] accomplished everything I’ve set out todo, but [at least] 90 percent.”
Shields’ accomplishments are highlighted by championship reigns inShooto,Strikeforceand EliteXC. Healso won the start-studded 2006 Rumble on the Rock welterweighttournament that included AndersonSilva and CarlosCondit. He has defeated a veritable who’s who of fighters atwelterweight and middleweight: HayatoSakurai, YushinOkami, the aforementioned Condit, Paul Daley,former two-division Pride Fighting Championships titleholder DanHenderson, Demian Maia,former Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight titlist RobbieLawler and current UFC welterweight champion TyronWoodley. Shields seems comfortable with his place inhistory.
“I can look back and say I had a good career, so I don’t feel toobummed about [possibly retiring],” Shields said. “I’ve been veryfortunate that I’ve been healthy all these years. You don’t want topush it too long and end up getting [a serious injury] right at theend. That would be a s---y way to end your career.”
Even though Shields has much about which to be satisfied, thereoption of fighting again is still open. If he does fight on, thePFL will have the first crack at making use of his services.
“Right now, I am re-signed to PFL. They have the option to use meor not, so it depends on what they [decide to do],” Shields said.“They treat me good, they’re run professionally [and] I can’tcomplain with the pay. My individual contract was good before [theplayoffs]. I just think the UFC kind of bosses you around andexpects you to do things. Basically, what they [say] goes. It’sjust the attitude they have, and PFL doesn’t treat you likethat.”
A Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu mainstay who now mostly trains out of theRenzo Gracie Academy in New York, Shields has plenty to contemplatein the next few months: his financial future, his health goingforward and where he wants to the place the period on the story ofhis legacy. Shields’ father, Jack, died in 2011 but remains a majorinfluence in his life and career. He has already considered theadvice his father might have given him as the end nears: “He’dprobably suggest to take time to think about it and weigh theoptions.”
