I don't buy it at all the Shields rumour. He'd at least need to win 1-2 big fights in the UFC before they'd either put him on TUF or give him a title shot.
Hendo got two title fights straight out of PRIDE... Shields would come to the UFC as the EliteXC WW Champ and SF MW Champ... they wouldn't have to give him feeder fights to build him up. More ppl have seen him fight on CBS than any UFC PPV with GSP.
Heh I was going to mention that it's not the same as Hendo getting 2 title shots right out of Pride, but didn't think it was necessary. Any belt related to EliteXC, I don't think Dana or the UFC is going to mention as anything meaningful. Hendo was Pride champ, the Pride roster was much much much better than Strikeforce's. Hendo KOed Wanderlei, Shields kind of controlled Mayhem lol. I guess you could argue more people have seen Big Foot Silva than Cain Velasquez, but I don't think they were considering giving Big Foot Silva an immediate title shot. I think Shields would have to fight a top 10 WW (or a non-top 10, then a top 10) in the UFC, before they'd push him on a season of TUF.
Well you could have him fight Paul Daley or Carlos Condit, except he's already beaten both of them during his current 13-fight winning streak. Other than Fedor I think Shields certainly is the kind of fighter that can be put in the title picture immediately. That is, if he's willing to go back down to WW. MW is a different story. It's a fight fans want to see. GSP and Shields have both expressed interest. GSP recently named Shields as his current "dream fight". Sure if AJ blasts out Koscheck than he's either the top contender or one fight off (needs to beat Alves or Fitch, perhaps), but what are we talking about, a year down the road?
"It's a fight fans want to see", From sherdog it doesn't seem to be, the casual fans there have 1-fight memory and generally felt the Mayhem fight was a snoozefest. Personally I would definitely like to see Shields vs GSP, but I also wanted to see Fedor-Werdum more than Fedor-Rogers, just because I thought Werdum was more experienced and proven. In terms of contenders, GSP has cleared a lot of the division, but - Hardy, The winner of AJ-Kos, and Fitch will be in position soon. That could easily be 2010 if GSP is healthy and can fight 3 times. (and there is talk he might move up to MW) I think he'll have to fight at least once. They didn't even give Crocop an instant title shot after winning the 2006 OWGP. They didn't give Wandy, Rampage, or Shogun instant title shots, and they are all considered bigger names who have fought the top of their weight class. I really its incredibly unlikely that Shields gets an instant title shot, they'll give him either a warm-up, and then a top 5 or at least a top 10 WW, or just give him one right away.
^ Paint drying is more entertaining than almost all of the fights from this season so far. But they've done lightweights a lot. TUF 11 is middleweights and light-heavyweights, like when Bisping won the show. Could make for some catchweight fights.
