Jake Shields to fight for Strikeforce interim middleweight title

Jake Shields was, at one point, the EliteXC welterweight champion, but last month he fought former EliteXC middleweight champ and top ranked fighter Robbie Lawlor, and won. It’s fitting then that Shields is to fight for the Strikeforce interim middleweight championship.

The news came as Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker spoke to MMAFanhouse at the press conference for Strikeforce: Carano vs Santos. The interim title comes about due to the inactivity of current Strikeforce middleweight champ Cung Le, who is taking time out to pursue his movie career.

There is no opponent for Shields as of yet, however former UFC star Matt Lindland is being strongly rumoured to face the former EliteXC champ. Where as Shields is coming off a string of impressive wins, Lindland is coming off the back of a devastating KO loss at the hands of Vitor Belfort at Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning”.

By Rory Logan