I'll be fighting Nick Thompson for the EliteXC Welterweight Title on CBS on July 26. The event will be held in Stockton, CA. at the Stockton Arena. Tickets can be purchased at the Stockton Arena Box Office (Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Saturday (noon-4 p.m.), by phone at (209) 373-1700 and (866) 373-7088 (toll free) or online at www.stocktontickets.com. When purchasing tickets if you use the following code, EliteClub2, it helps me with the promotion. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. PT. The first live fight is at 3:15.
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Jake Shields has been awarded a Blackbelt in Gracie Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Shields has had an incredible MMA and submission grappling career and looks to only further his accomplishments in the future.
In 2002 Shields defeated Hayato "Mach" Sakurai to shock the MMA world. He later became only the 2nd American to have ever won the Shooto Championship. In 2005 Shields took 3rd place in the ADCC World Championships by defeating Diego Sanchez, Cameron Earl and Leo Santos. Later in the year he submitted John Fitch to become the Gracie Open Superfight Champion. In 2006 Shields defeated Dave Menne, Yushin Okami and Carlos Condit to become the Rumble on the Rock GP Champion. Last year Shields submitted Renato "Charuto" Verissimo and Mike Pyle to become EliteXC's #1 contender.
Shields has now joined David Terrell and Nick Diaz in becoming 1 of an elite 3 that has ever been promoted to Blackbelt at the Cesar Gracie Academy. Congratulations Jake Shields!