Fighters have many tough decisions to make during their careers, from choosing their coaches and managers to picking opponents and selecting the organization for which they want to compete. However, no decision is more difficult for a professional prizefighter than determining when the journey is over. Longtime welterweight star Jake Shields is currently at this crucial crossroads.
Despite his passion for MMA being as strong as ever, Shields remains unsure about whether or not he should continue on with his journey. For many, the impetus to contemplate retirement often comes from a series of unfortunate events. In the fight game, that usually materializes in the form of a long losing streak. Yet during his 46-fight career, Shields has suffered back-to-back defeats only twice. What has him pondering an exit is a 3-4 run since 2015. His last two losses have come at the high-powered hands of Ray Cooper III. He lost to the Hawaiian in his Professional Fighters League regular-season debut and again during their rematch in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. The losses were crushing, as Shields was discarded by his 25-year-old opponent the same way in both fights: Cooper stopped him with second-round punches on July 5 and put him away in the first round of their rematch.
“I knew he was a tough fight,” Shields said. “It was going to be one of those fights where if I get him down I can submit him, but if he hits me with some of those shots, he’s capable of knocking me out.”
Heading into their PFL 10 rematch, the 39-year-old Shields cited back issues he endured throughout the season and early mistakes in their first bout as evidence he could do better the next time. However, despite being healthier and better prepared, the result was the same. It was plain now: Cooper was just the superior fighter.
“I went in there a 100 percent healthy and still lost. [Cooper’s] talented,” Shields said. “He’s one of those rare guys that has crazy speed and power. I think the kid has a bright future. Losing to him sucks, but at least I’m losing to someone I have a feeling is going to go far in the sport.”
Emotions can run high following a setback, especially when a fighter starts to see the finish line. “After the fight I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m done,’ because I really wanted to get to the finals,” Shields said. However, the cerebral veteran knew it was not the time for rash decisions. He did not want to put himself in what he views as an awkward position of retiring and then walking back the move. “You see a lot of guys do that. That’s a little bit embarrassing if you’re retiring and unretiring. You have to reevaluate. Do I just accept I’ve done quite a bit [in the sport]? It sucks to go out on a loss, but most [fighters] do. Do you go out and try and do one or two more [fights]? That’s the situation I am looking at right now.”
As Shields assesses the next chapter in his MMA career, finances will only represent a small component of his decision. For some fighters, the income prizefighting offers is often their best option to continue the life of comfort to which they have grown accustomed. Others may have mismanaged their bank account and need to fight just to provide for themselves and their families. Although he enjoys the large sums of money that come after a fight, Shields is not in a position where he needs to continue in the sport for financial gain.
“Everyone likes to make a big chunk of cash, but luckily, I do have [other sources of income],” he said. “I’ve saved quite a bit, put money in investments and I have other things I can do. I’m not in a situation where I’m desperate for money. It’s a factor, but it’s not the biggest factor.”
As he reflects on his career and delves further into the grappling side of combat sports to satisfy his competitive nature, Shields is at peace with what he has done during his two-decade run.
“I fought for 19 years, so it gets really tough to look past being a fighter,” he said, “but I also feel like I’ve accomplished a lot in this sport. [I haven’t] accomplished everything I’ve set out to do, but [at least] 90 percent.”
Shields’ accomplishments are highlighted by championship reigns in Shooto, Strikeforce and EliteXC. He also won the start-studded 2006 Rumble on the Rock welterweight tournament that included Anderson Silva and Carlos Condit. He has defeated a veritable who’s who of fighters at welterweight and middleweight: Hayato Sakurai, Yushin Okami, the aforementioned Condit, Paul Daley, former two-division Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Dan Henderson, Demian Maia, former Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight titlist Robbie Lawler and current UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. Shields seems comfortable with his place in history.
“I can look back and say I had a good career, so I don’t feel too bummed about [possibly retiring],” Shields said. “I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve been healthy all these years. You don’t want to push it too long and end up getting [a serious injury] right at the end. That would be a s---y way to end your career.”
Even though Shields has much about which to be satisfied, there option of fighting again is still open. If he does fight on, the PFL will have the first crack at making use of his services.
“Right now, I am re-signed to PFL. They have the option to use me or not, so it depends on what they [decide to do],” Shields said. “They treat me good, they’re run professionally [and] I can’t complain with the pay. My individual contract was good before [the playoffs]. I just think the UFC kind of bosses you around and expects you to do things. Basically, what they [say] goes. It’s just the attitude they have, and PFL doesn’t treat you like that.”
A Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu mainstay who now mostly trains out of the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York, Shields has plenty to contemplate in the next few months: his financial future, his health going forward and where he wants to the place the period on the story of his legacy. Shields’ father, Jack, died in 2011 but remains a major influence in his life and career. He has already considered the advice his father might have given him as the end nears: “He’d probably suggest to take time to think about it and weigh the options.”