Elite XC Welterweight Champion Jake Shields (21-4–1) will put his newly-won 170-pound title on the line for the first time ever against John Alessio (23-11) at “The Pit” at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M., on September 20.
MMAmania.com was able to confirm the match up with a source close to the fight negotiations.
Shields – widely regarded as the top welterweight in the world not fighting in the UFC – recently won the inaugural division title for the promotion when he essentially ran through a very tough Nick Thompson at Elite XC: “Unfinished Business” last month.
The Cesar Gracie-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu standout is on a blistering 10-fight win streak, racking up impressive wins against top-level talent such as Mike Pyle, Renato Verissimo, Yushin Okami, Carlos Condit and others.
Perhaps most impressive is that he’s been able to improve fight after fight, finishing his last five opponents – something that was a knock on him midway through in his blossoming career.
His opponent, John Alessio, most recently slapped a rear naked choke on former UFC competitor, Pete Spratt, in the second round of their fight with Banner Promotions: “Night of Combat” on June 20.
“The Natural” sustained a broken arm in the fight, however, it appears that everything must be all good if he’s able to take a title fight exactly three months later.
Alessio – who owns a winless record (0-3) inside the Octagon against some pretty stiff competition (Pat Miletich, Diego Sanchez and Thiago Alves) — put together a solid record (5-2) in the WEC with his only losses coming to division champion, Carlos Condit (submission), and former number one contender, Brock Larson, by way of disqualification.
To check out the latest Elite XC card for September 20, which will be available to watch on the Showtime premium cable channel at 10 p.m., click here.
19 Comments »
Not a good move. Alessio lost to Condit, I think this makes Elite XC seem a little weak. They are giving Shields a challenger who lost to the champ at WEC. They could have found someone better in my mind.
nO worries, Paul Daley said that EliteXC told him he just needs to beat some undefeated chump in SEptember and then he will get his crack at Jake’s title!
Now thats a real fight!
However Daley actually said that EliteXC told him he just needed to win in SEptember to get a title shot. Daley then said, I will be ready to take the belt from whoever they want. Diaz, Noons, Alvarez, Sheilds it doesnt matter. Which tells me that he isnt sure if he will challenge for the welterweight or lightweight title. Either way we are in for a great title shot and Daley is capable of upsetting any of them,!
I hope saily is training his ground game. 4 of his 6 loses come from submissions. As soon as Jake gets it to the ground game over. His ground game will be light years behind Shields. I think Shields will run through Daley. Daley has no fights against any real competetion. A bunch of has beens and never was fighters. Shields has beaten some tough opponents in Okami and Condit. Not to mention he has completely cut through his last opponents. I realize they are not A level guys either but they are solid fighters, compared to Daleys opponents, imo anyway. I see shields taking him to the ground, hooks in, goodnight Paul….
I guess that’s the only guy they could find to bring in as Shield’s stepping stone.
Alessio is not fighting Sheilds after all. Says he wont be ready.
i think training with Gilbert, Nate, and Nick will be tufer than his first title defense.. I this laster a few ticks longer than hairy neck Goat fight.
Yes Phil, this fight is EASY money for us gamblers. But then again, so have all the EliteXC events. Simply bet on the 4 favorites in a parlay, and you win. Its been quite easy!
But this Shields fight will call for a stand alone bet as well. My account balance will be $0 right before this event takes place, and my pending wagers will be my entire bankroll.
I am also hearing that Chris “the Polish Hammer: Horedecki will face Dan Lauzon, brother of UFC fighter Joe at Affliction 2 in october!
that would be nice.. when watching his episode of Tapout.. Why doesn’t he train with his brother???.. I kept asking myself that.. And the Tapout Crew.. dissed his training.. much props to Dellegrotte.. His gym was OFFICIAL.. That was filmed before Kenny vs Lauzon went down.. so Dan was a bit tight being over there.. I don’t really gethis nick namew ” The Upgrade “.. in regards that he is a notch above his brother’s skill set.. in reality he is not. So I’ll re nick name him Dan ” The DownGrade ” Lauzon.. Ouch. I know.
But um.. Dan can if he doesn’t get caught with a Polish left ofr right hammer.. will have a bit of an advantege on the ground.. I hope Chris is working his wrestling/ Jits.. cuz he need s to.. if this fight goes down.. I would really like to see it. Hopfellu they can ink it for Affliction2.
I love the “Upgrade” nickname and find it quite comical. It isn’t just in terms of fighting skills either. They don’t even look much like brothers. Joe looks like he is more related to the 6th guy from the left on the evolution poster, I swear I seen him as an extra on Planet of the Apes (actually, I never saw that movie…).
I thought that Dan was working his way back to a UFC contract. What’s up Dana????
Dan’s training was pretty pathetic. He was beating up on unskilled 16 year olds. It was litterally laughable. Can anyone confirm if Danny is now training at Delagrotti’s gym or not??? He has boatloads of potential, he just needs a good camp and solid training partners.
VM.. did you notice.. when Mask asked Dan for moment to chat.. mano a mano.. that his boxing trainer and the other dude.. look at eachother.. tight
i think if shields dominates alessio as easy as he did the goat, he should move up to 185 and challenge lawler,le or frank shamrock. i mean, come on, ther is just no competiton for him at that weight in elite. a title shot for alessio? never having fought once for them? i think he is a decent enough fighter but if shields actully wants challenge’s he’s gonna have to move up north until he is able to fight in the ufc or wec, when that is, who knows? i think he can take lawler and be the 1rst elite guy to be champion in 2 wieght classes. what do you think?
I agree.
That sounds like a good idea B.W. I would have Jake Shields as the favorite in a fight against Lawler as well. In a straight boxing/kickboxing fight I’d go with Lawler, but this is MMA and I’d see Jake taking him down and working him over which ever way he felt like it from there.
doubt it will happen. tHey will just continue to build up sheilds and Lawler with watered down oponents. Vilasenyor and Ninja will probably get title shots AGAIN at middleweight and Sheilds will have to fight allessio then Daley or maybe even Alvarez.
all elitexC has is some good champions and the competition is weak. If they start matching up champ vs. Champ, one will loose and diminish star power of the few fighters that they have.
shields is now saying that he has not signed to fight alessio and could possibly face a top 185lb fighter from another org. didnt say who didnt say what org.
Get this guy in the UFC. Love to see him fight Fitch.
GSP wants to fight deserving fighters and Jake is no doubt most deserving @ WW.
GSP is getting BJ and he is more than deserving