Jake Shields

Jake Shields was born Jan. 9, 1979. He was raised near Mt. Ranch, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California. Jake is a life-long vegetarian. He was home schooled up to junior high.

He and his two older brothers grew up at the end of a dirt road on the rim of the Jesus Maria Canyon. Their nearest friends were a 45 minute hike down one side of the canyon and up the other.

Their activities included mountain biking, wild caving, snowboarding, clearing brush, bucking firewood, climbing mountains, exploring the high country and wrestling.

Jake began wrestling at age nine. He has competed in over 650 folk, freestyle and submission wrestling matches. A four year varsity wrestler and state qualifier at Calaveras H.S., 2nd place A.A.U.

Read more: Sample of Jake Shields vegetarian diet

National Freestyle Championships, qualified for U.S.A./ Fila Nationals & World Team Trials in both the junior & university men’s divisions, two time All American at Cuesta College, 3X Grapplers Quest Advance Champion, Pan American Jui Jitsu Champion, Pan Am Advance Submission Champion, Gracie Open Superfight Champion, 3rd place at ADCC 2005.

In Sept. 1999, Jake began his MMA training by joining Chuck Liddels SLO Kickboxing Academy. Within a few weeks he fought his first fight, filling in for an injured teammate at 185 lbs. During his first year he was fighting “for fun, to stay in shape and to learn some self defense”.

In 2001 Jake decided he wanted to make a career of mixed martial arts and began fighting at his natural weight of 170 lbs. In the years since he is 22-2, including six championship fights.

He has consistently fought top ranked and highly regarded opposition. Among his victories are Hayato Sakurai, Akira Kikuchi, Dave Menne, Yushin Okami, Carlos Condit,, ‘Charuto’ Verissimo, Mike Pyle, Paul Daley, Robbie Lawler and Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller.

In the summer of 2001 Jake received a wrestling scholarship to SF State. At that time he began training with the Cesar Gracie Fight Team, resulting in a dramatic improvement in his jui jitsu.

In 2007 Jake became only one of three people to recieve a black belt from Cesar Gracie. He continued to improve on the kickboxing skills he picked up with Chuck Liddel, by cross-training with the professional Muay Thai kickboxing team at the Fairtex combat Academy, training with legendary Mauy Thai Champions, Jonganson Fairtex and Alex Gong.

MMA Consistently ranked in top 10

Record 25-4-1 stats

2 X Strikeforce Middleweight Champion 2 X EliteXC Welterweight Champion Rumble on the Rock Welterweight Champion Shooto Middleweight World Champion Shooto America’s & Pacific Rim Champion Gladiator Challenge Welterweight Champion Midwest Fighting Superfight Champion U.A.G.F. Fighting North American Champion

Significant victories over:

• PRIDE, LHW & MW Champ, UFC Vet, Dan Henderson
• ELITEXC & ICON CHAMP, &UFC VET- Robbie Lawler
• Jason “Mayhem” Miller
• Cage Rage Champ Paul Daley
• PRIDE & UFC Superstar Hayato Sakurai,
• Former UFC middleweight champion, Dave Menne,
• UFC middleweight contender Yushin Okami,
• SHOOTO world champion, Akira Kikuchi,
• WEC Champion Carlos Condit,
• Bodog Champion, Nick Thompson
• UFC and PRIDE veterans, Renato ‘Charuto’ Verissimo, Jeremy Jackson, Steve Berger, Shannon Ritch, Milton Veirra, Mike Pyle and Ray Cooper.

Read more: Jake Shields' Life of Resilience and Self-Belief

Submission & Grappling:

• Gracie B.J.J. Black Belt
• 3rd at 2005 ADCC World Submission Championships
• Pan American 2005 Jii Jitsu Champion
• Pan Am Submission Advance Champion
• 3X Grapplers Quest Advance Champion
• Calif. Professional Absolute Champion
• Two Time All-American Collegiate Wrestler

Significant victories over:

• Diego Sanchez (UFC reality show winner,)
• Leo Santos ( 7x Jui Jitsu World Champion and ADCC finalist)
• Jon Fitch (UFC fighter)
• Viniciuse Magalhaes ( 3x BJJ World Champ. & Absoulte Champion)
• Augusto Cesar (silver medalist at Jui Jitsu World Championships)