Comparing Records/Resumes: Jake Shields vs Matt Hughes

Det Kimble

Det Kimble

<img src="http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/6586/ba
Joined
Aug 20, 2007
Messages
22,929
Reaction score
1
I've said for a while that Jake Shields was the clear #3 WW GOAT, right behind Hughes and GSP. A lot of people laughed at those claims because of his "boring" style, but records don't lie. In fact, you could argue that Shields holds better wins than Hughes at this point. I would not argue that Shields is a more accomplished WW because Hughes has more top wins at WW than Shields. In addition, Hughes was one of the most dominant champs in MMA history. Still, if we're strictly looking at competition, Shields' top wins are right there with Hughes.

Let's compare:

Matt Hughes

jm3h.jpg


Record: 45
 
I never really thought about it but i think the case is strong for him to be considered #3 ww all time.
For the record although im a fan of shields and think he could probley beat anyone at ww on his good day, condit would most likely ko him in a rematch these days....
 
Can Matt come out of retirement to settle this? No risk of KO. :>
 
If you're trying to rank him as a WW GOAT you cannot include his wins at MW. It's like saying Faber is the #3 BW GOAT when some of his best wins were at FW.
 
Nelly said:
If you're trying to rank him as a WW GOAT you cannot include his wins at MW. It's like saying Faber is the #3 BW GOAT when some of his best wins were at FW.
Click to expand...

His wins over Okami (WW at the time), Condit, Woodley, Sexyama, Sakurai, Maia, Daley, and Kampmann give him a strong argument for the #3 spot, considering most people put Fitch or Condit there.
 
Problem is Shields bored his opponents to his "victories".. the guy has never looked impressive .. Has he ever finished an opponent??
 
Det_Kimble said:
His wins over Okami (WW at the time), Condit, Woodley, Sexyama, Sakurai, Maia, Daley, and Kampmann give him a strong argument for the #3 spot, considering most people put Fitch or Condit there.
Click to expand...

I won't argue about who beat the better opponents but Hughes finished top ranked guys (at the time he fought them) and GSP dominates them. Shields barely edged out half of the guys you listed.
 
Nelly said:
I won't argue about who beat the better opponents but Hughes finished top ranked guys (at the time he fought them) and GSP dominates them. Shields barely edged out half of the guys you listed.
Click to expand...

That's the point of this thread, though: To compare their top wins.

I never tried to argue that Shields should be ranked higher than both of them on the WW all-time list. I didn't even include GSP because, well, I think GSP has probably the best resume in MMA. I said that Shields is the 3rd best WW of all-time, and his (overall) top wins are comparable to Hughes'.

With that said, I respect your opinion about dominance. Hughes' wins (aside from the first Newton fight) were definitely more decisive than some of Shields'.
 
Det_Kimble said:
His wins over Okami (WW at the time), Condit, Woodley, Sexyama, Sakurai, Maia, Daley, and Kampmann give him a strong argument for the #3 spot, considering most people put Fitch or Condit there.
Click to expand...

Hard to argue against that. Condit is a close 4th tho. Trigg, Ellenburger, Macdonald, Kim, Diaz, and Kapmann.

I wouldn't mind seeing a rematch of their fight before they each
retire. Battle for the # 3
 
Jblizzle said:
Hard to argue against that. Condit is a close 4th tho. Trigg, Ellenburger, Macdonald, Kim, Diaz, and Kapmann.

I wouldn't mind seeing a rematch of their fight before they each
retire. Battle for the # 3
Click to expand...

I think Condit would have a really good shot at beating Shields this time around, but Jake manages to win fights he shouldn't. It's an interesting rematch.
 
Det_Kimble said:
I think Condit would have a really good shot at beating Shields this time around, but Jake manages to win fights he shouldn't. It's an interesting rematch.
Click to expand...

Yea I think Condit has definitely improved more than Shields has in the time since the first fight imo, but you can never count Shields out the guy just wins. Plus I still think Shields' ability to control people on the ground would be a big factor in the the fight as it was in the first one.
 
Shields would have submitted Hughes
 
Det_Kimble said:
His wins over Okami (WW at the time), Condit, Woodley, Sexyama, Sakurai, Maia, Daley, and Kampmann give him a strong argument for the #3 spot, considering most people put Fitch or Condit there.
Click to expand...

Over half of Matt Hughes wins are people WITH NO WIKIPEDIA PAGE!!! Sheilds is also winning at an age where Hughes was starting to get beat up, so hes lasting longer and still beating the top guys. Would be an interesting 5 rounder, probably give it to Shields btw, but greatness give to Hughes who had plenty of defences and beat up GSP and prime BJ the bantom wait.
 
The complaint will always be that he arguably lost 4 of the fights on that list, and that he fought a few of those opponents at the right time to do so.

Despite what I'm saying, I tend to agree with you right now, but I'm hoping Condit will continue accumulating wins and eventually move up to that spot (or better).
 
Jarnee said:
Over half of Matt Hughes wins are people WITH NO WIKIPEDIA PAGE!!! Sheilds is also winning at an age where Hughes was starting to get beat up, so hes lasting longer and still beating the top guys. Would be an interesting 5 rounder, probably give it to Shields btw, but greatness give to Hughes who had plenty of defences and beat up GSP and prime BJ the bantom wait.
Click to expand...

Good point. You would think it'd be the opposite, since Shields appears to be less well-rounded than Hughes. That's not the case, though. I'm glad Shields beat Maia because he probably would have been cut if he lost, and I still think there are a lot of good fights for him both at MW and WW.
 
You left off a few of Hughes notable wins: Dave Menne, Akihiro Gono, Joe Doerkson, Laverne Clark, Gil Castillo, Renato Verissimo

If Joe Riggs and Sexyama are notable fighters then I would include these guys as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
1,236,988
Messages
55,459,645
Members
174,787
Latest member
Freddie556

Share this page

Back
Top