PRO MMA (promma.info) received official word today from Strikeforce officials “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (16-4) will fight Jake Shields (22-4-1) on Saturday, June 6, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
The fight will be the headliner for STRIKEFORCE: LAWLER vs. SHIELDS, which will air live on SHOWTIME at 10 pm ET/PT (delayed on West Coast).
Lawler is the number four ranked middleweight in the world, while Shields is the number four ranked welterweight. The two will meet at a catch weight of 182 pounds.
Lawler comes into STRIKEFORCE from one of the many ELITE XC contracts that were acquired by the San Jose based company. MMA fans will recall Lawler’s last bout being an ELITE XC Middleweight Title defense against Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith In July 2008 on CBS where Lawler put a stop to Smith via TKO by strikes in round two.
Jake Shields is on an eleven fight win streak and has not lost a bout in five years. Shields also comes from the ELITE XC stable. He was their reigning welterweight champion and had the “honor” of being on the final ELITE XC card (some say the card that drove the final nail in the promotion’s coffin).
Shields last bout was at ELITE XC: HEAT against Paul Daley in October 2008. Shields won via submission armbar in the second round.
Coming out of the Cesar Gracie Academy, Shields is known for his grappling and jiu jitsu. Nine of his twenty-two victories have come by submission. Ten of his victories were by decision. Shields has been quoted as saying his grappling is better than Lawler’s striking.
Robbie Lawler, coming out of Matt Hughes’ HIT Squad is known for his striking and heavy hands and has finished thirteen of his sixteen victories by (T)KO. He has had one submission victory and his only two times going to decision were both victories.
MMA fans can definitely expect fireworks in this one as Shields will certainly be looking to get the fight to the ground and Lawler uses his wrestling as a defense to keep the fight standing.
Shields realizes to try and stand and trade with Lawler would not be in his best interest, “It makes me want to train really hard. I know I’ve got to be ready because, if I’m not, he’s going to kick me in the head or punch me and knock me out…I’m not going to say I’m a better striker than Lawler because that would be stupid. Lawler is one of the better strikers out there.”
Doors at the Scottrade Center will open for Strikeforce: “Lawler vs. Shields” at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, June 6. The first non-televised preliminary bout will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets Go On Sale Monday, April 13.