Conservatism (, "to preserve") and her ideology has been seen as confronting "established institutions" and the "accepted beliefs of the elite", both concepts incompatible with the traditional conception of conservatism as signifying support for the established order and existing social convention.

United States

Conservatism in the United States includes a variety of political ideologies including fiscal conservatism, supply-side economics, social conservatism, libertarian conservatism, bioconservatism and religious conservatism, A study by Kathleen Maclay stated these traits "might be associated with such generally valued characteristics as personal commitment and unwavering loyalty." The research also suggested that both liberals and conservatives are resistant to change; liberals simply have a higher tolerance.

According to psychologist Robert Altemeyer, individuals who are politically conservative tend to rank high in Right-Wing Authoritarianism on his RWA scale. This finding was echoed by Theodor Adorno. A study done on Israeli and Palestinian students in Israel found that RWA scores of right-wing party supporters were significantly higher than those of left-wing party supporters. However, a 2005 study by H. Michael Crowson and colleagues suggested a moderate gap between RWA and other conservative positions. "The results indicated that conservatism is not synonymous with RWA."

Psychologist Felicia Pratto and her colleagues have found evidence to support the idea that a high Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) is strongly correlated with conservative political views, and opposition to social engineering to promote equality, though Pratto's findings have been highly controversial. Pratto and her colleagues found that high SDO scores were highly correlated with measures of prejudice. They were refuted in this claim by David J. Schneider, who wrote that "correlations between prejudice and political conservative are reduced virtually to zero when controls for SDO are instituted" and by Kenneth Minogue who wrote "It is characteristic of the conservative temperament to value established identities, to praise habit and to respect prejudice, not because it is irrational, but because such things anchor the darting impulses of human beings in solidities of custom which we do not often begin to value until we are already losing them. Radicalism often generates youth movements, while conservatism is a condition found among the mature, who have discovered what it is in life they most value."

A 1996 study on the relationship between racism and conservatism found that the correlation was stronger among more educated individuals, though specifically anti-Black racism did not increase. They also found that the correlation between racism and conservatism could be entirely accounted for by their mutual relationship with social dominance orientation. The authors concluded that opposition to affirmative action, especially among more highly educated conservatives, was better explained by social dominance orientation than by principled conservatism.

A 2010 study by scientists at Harvard and The Univesity of California at San Diego found that there is also a genetic predisposition towards liberalism.

Notes

References

Eccleshall, Robert. English Conservatism since the Restoration: An Introduction and Anthology. London: Unwin Hyman, 1990 ISBN 978-0-04-445346-8

Further reading

Our Culture, What's Left of It: the Mandarins and the masses / Theodore Dalrymple., 2005

Fascists and conservatives : the radical right and the establishment in twentieth-century Europe / Martin Blinkhorn., 1990

Reflections on the Revolution in France / Edmund Burke., 1997

The Superfluous Men: Critics of American Culture, 1900–1945 / Robert Crunden., 1999

Recent conservative political thought : American perspectives / Russell G. Fryer., 1979

The Conservative Movement / Paul E. Gottfried., 1993

The British Right : Conservative and right wing politics in Britain / Neill Nugent., 1977

America alone: the neo-conservatives and the global order / Stefan A Halper., 2004

Conservatism / Ted Honderich.

The Conservative Mind / Russell Kirk., 2001

The Politics of Prudence / Russell Kirk., 1993

The conservative press in twentieth-century America / Ronald Lora., 1999

From the New Deal to the New Right: race and the southern origins of modern conservatism / Joseph E Lowndes., 2008

Conservatism / Jerry Z. Muller.

Right-wing women: from conservatives to extremists around the world / P Bacchetta., 2002

Unmaking law: the Conservative campaign to roll back the common law / Jay M Feinman., 2004

Radicals or conservatives?: the contemporary American right / James McEvoy., 1971

Conservatism: Dream and Reality / Robert Nisbet., 2001

Ought the Neo-Cons be Considered Conservatives?: a philosophical response / AQ: Journal of Contemporary Analysis. 75(6):32-33/40. 2003

Conservatism in America since 1930: a reader / Gregory L. Schneider., 2003

Conservatism / Noel O'Sullivan.

The new racism : conservatives and the ideology of the tribe / Martin Barker., 1982

A time for choosing: the rise of modern American conservatism / Jonathan M Schoenwald., 2001

The Meaning of Conservatism / Roger Scruton.

Facing fascism: the conservative party and the European dictators, 1935–1940 / NJ Crowson., 1997

The End of Politics: triangulation, realignment and the battle for the centre ground / Alexander Lee and Timothy Stanley., 2006

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity / James Fitzjames Stephen.

Category:Conservatism Category:Political ideologies Category:Social theories

Name	Ron Paul
Image name	Ron Paul, official Congressional photo portrait, 2007.jpg|thumb|Paul's Congressional portrait
Birth date	August 20, 1935
Birth place	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
State	Texas
District	14th
Term start	January 3, 1997
Preceded	Greg Laughlin
State2	Texas
District2	22nd
Term start2	January 3, 1979
Term end2	January 3, 1985
Preceded2	Robert Gammage
Succeeded2	Tom DeLay
Term start3	April 3, 1976
Term end3	January 3, 1977
Preceded3	Robert R. Casey
Succeeded3	Robert Gammage
Party	Republican (1976–1988)Libertarian (1988 Presidential Election)Republican (1988–present)
Spouse	Carolyn "Carol" Paul
Children	Ronald "Ronnie" Paul, Jr.Lori Paul PyeattRandal "Rand" PaulRobert PaulJoy Paul-LeBlanc
Alma mater	Gettysburg College (B.S.)Duke University School of Medicine (M.D.)
Profession	Physician, Politician
Residence	Lake Jackson, Texas
Religion	BaptistUnited States Air National Guard
Serviceyears	1962–19651965–1968

Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul (born August 20, 1935) is an American physician and Republican Congressman for the 14th congressional district of Texas. Paul serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Joint Economic Committee, and the Committee on Financial Services, where he has been an outspoken critic of American foreign and monetary policy. He has gained prominence for his libertarian positions on many political issues, often clashing with both Republican and Democratic Party leaders. He is the Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy. He received a B.S. degree in biology at Gettysburg College in 1957. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. That same day, the young physician decided to enter politics, saying later, "After that day, all money would be political money rather than money of real value. I was astounded."

First campaigns

Inspired by his belief that the monetary crisis of the 1970s was predicted by the Austrian School and caused by excessive government spending on the Vietnam War He also proposed legislation to decrease Congressional pay by the rate of inflation; he was a regular participant in the annual Congressional Baseball Game; and he continued to deliver babies on Mondays and Saturdays during his entire 22nd district career.

During his first term, Paul founded a think tank, the Foundation for Rational Economics and Education (FREE). and spoke against the banking mismanagement that led to the savings and loan crisis. The U.S. Gold Commission created by Congress in 1982 was his and Jesse Helms's idea, and Paul's commission minority report was published by the Cato Institute in The Case for Gold; and was succeeded by former state representative Tom DeLay.

In 2009, Paul was featured by CBS on Up to the Minute as one of two members of the U.S. Congress that have pledged not to receive pension from the United States government. The other is Howard Coble of North Carolina. Paul criticized Ronald Reagan as a failure and cited high deficits as exhibit A. On the ballot in 46 states and the District of Columbia, behind Republican winner George H. W. Bush and Democrat Michael Dukakis. Kent Snyder, Paul's 2008 campaign chair, first worked for Paul on the 1988 campaign. He traveled the country for a year speaking about issues such as free market economics and the rising government deficits: "That's why we talk to a lot of young people. They're the ones who are paying these bills, they're the ones who are inheriting this debt, so it's most likely these young people who will move into this next generation in government." He worked with FREE on such projects as establishing the National Endowment for Liberty, producing the At Issue public policy series that aired on Discovery Channel and CNBC, and continuing publication of Dr. Ron Paul's Freedom Report.

Inter-congressional years

Ron Paul & Associates (RP&A;), Inc. was founded in 1984 by Paul, who served as President. Llewellyn H Rockwell Jr. served as Vice President, Ron Paul's wife Carol served as Secretary and Lori Pyeatt as Treasurer. The corporation was dissolved in 2001. and occasional editor) Paul won the primary with support from baseball pitcher, constituent, and friend Nolan Ryan (as honorary campaign chair and ad spokesman), as well as tax activist Steve Forbes and conservative commentator Pat Buchanan (both of whom had run presidential campaigns that year).

Paul's Democratic opponent in the fall general election, trial lawyer Charles "Lefty" Morris, received assistance from the AFL-CIO, but Paul's wider contributor base out-raised Morris two-to-one, giving the third-highest amount of individual contributions received by any House member (behind Gingrich and Bob Dornan). some of which were characterized as racially charged. Upon his returning to Washington, Paul quickly discovered "there was no sincere effort" by Republicans toward their declared goal of small government.

Later campaigns

In 1998 and again in 2000, Paul defeated Loy Sneary, a Democratic Bay City rice farmer and former Matagorda County judge, running ads warning voters to be "leery of" Sneary. Paul accused Sneary of voting to raise his pay by 5%, increasing his travel allotment by 400% in one year, and using increased taxes to start a new government bureaucracy to handle a license plate fee he enacted. Sneary's aides said he had voted to raise all county employees' pay by five percent in a cost-of-living increase. Paul countered that he had never voted to raise Congressional pay.

An online grassroots petition to draft Paul for the 2004 presidential election garnered several thousand signatures. Paul opposes farm subsidies because they are paid to large corporations rather than small farmers. in a survey, 54% of his constituency agreed with his goal of eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. Paul compared his practice to objecting to the tax system yet taking all one's tax credits: "I want to get their money back for the people." traveling over daily to attend civic ceremonies for veterans, graduates, and Boy Scouts, often accompanied by his grandchildren. His staff helps senior citizens obtain free or low-cost prescription drugs through a little-known drug company program; procures lost or unreceived medals for war veterans, holding dozens of medal ceremonies annually; is known for its effectiveness in tracking down Social Security checks; and sends out birthday and condolence cards.

In 2001, he was one of only eight doctors in the House; even fewer had continued to practice while in office. He is occasionally approached by younger area residents to thank him for attending and assisting their deliveries at birth.

Legislation

Paul authors more bills than the average representative, such as those that impose term limits, or abolish the income tax or the Federal Reserve; many do not escape committee review. He has written successful legislation to prevent eminent domain seizure of a church in New York, and a bill transferring ownership of the Lake Texana dam project from the federal government to Texas. By amending other legislation, he has barred funding for national identification numbers, funding for federal teacher certification, International Criminal Court jurisdiction over the U.S. military, American participation in any U.N. global tax, and surveillance on peaceful First Amendment activities by citizens.

Paul says his fellow members of Congress have increased government spending by 75 percent during George W. Bush's administration. He is a founding member of the Congressional Rural Caucus, which deals with agricultural and rural issues, and the 140-member Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus. These publications would later create political problems for Paul.

At the end of 2007, both the New York Sun and the New York Times Magazine reprinted passages from early 1990s publications of Paul's newsletters, attacking them for content deemed racist. These were the same newsletters that had been used against Paul in his 1996 congressional campaign.

On January 8, 2008, the day of the New Hampshire primary, The New Republic published a story by James Kirchick quoting from selected newsletters published under Paul's name. Paul's presidential campaign took the position that the Kirchick story was simply a "rehash" of a political attack received during his 1996 campaign.

Responding to the charges in a CNN interview, Paul denied any involvement in authoring the passages. Additionally, Paul's campaign claimed through a press release that the quotations had come from an unnamed ghostwriter and without Paul's consent. Paul again denounced and disavowed the "small-minded thoughts," citing his 1999 House speech praising Rosa Parks for her courage; he said the charges simply "rehashed" the decade-old Morris attack. Although Rockwell denies this charge, and "has characterized discussion of the newsletters as 'hysterical smears aimed at political enemies.'" However, Paul requested on September 11 that Montana take his name off the ballot, He also suggested the Party list official Constitution Party nominee Baldwin on the Montana ballot instead. Five days later the Montana Secretary of State denied Paul's request for withdrawal, They are pledged to Paul for President and Barry Goldwater, Jr. for Vice President.

The same day, Paul made a brief press statement: "On the heels of his historic three-day rally in Minneapolis that drew over 12,000 attendees, Congressman Ron Paul will make a major announcement next week in Washington at the National Press Club." His nickname "Dr. No" on his office wall. He regularly votes against almost all proposals for new government spending, initiatives, or taxes; He has pledged never to raise taxes He says his years as an obstetrician led him to believe life begins at conception; his abortion-related legislation, like the Sanctity of Life Act, is intended to negate Roe v. Wade and to get "the federal government completely out of the business of regulating state matters." Paul also believes that the notion of the separation of church and state is currently misused by the court system: "In case after case, the Supreme Court has used the infamous 'separation of church and state' metaphor to uphold court decisions that allow the federal government to intrude upon and deprive citizens of their religious liberty."

He opposes federal regulation of the death penalty, of education, and of marriage, and supports revising the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy to focus on disruptive sexual behavior (whether heterosexual or homosexual). As a free-market environmentalist, he asserts private property rights in relation to environmental protection and pollution prevention. He also opposes the federal War on Drugs, and thinks the states should decide whether to regulate or deregulate drugs such as medical marijuana. Paul pushes to eliminate federal involvement in and management of health care, which he argues would allow prices to drop due to the fundamental dynamics of a free market. He is an outspoken proponent for increased ballot access for 3rd party candidates and numerous election law reforms which he believes would allow more voter control. Ron Paul has also stated that “The government shouldn't be in the medical business." He is also opposed to government flu inoculation programs.

Paul takes a critical view of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, arguing that it was unconstitutional and did not improve race relations.

Books authored

Other contributions

References

External links

Ron Paul's Personal Website, books, articles, links to political sites connected with Ron Paul

RonPaul.com speeches, essays, interviews, photos and videos

Ron Paul Library articles and speeches by Ron Paul

Ron Paul Forums

;Congress

U.S. House of Representatives Office of Ron Paul

Congressional campaign website

;Organizations Founded

Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty

Ron Paul's Liberty PAC

Ron Paul's F.R.E.E. Foundation – The Foundation for Rational Economics and Education

;Presidential campaign

NOW on PBS "Ron Paul and Internet Politics". Also, a September 2008 NOW on PBS interview with Ron Paul

PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer — Vote 2008: Ron Paul

Category:1935 births Category:Living people Category:American anti-Iraq War activists Category:American foreign policy writers Category:American libertarians Category:American physicians Category:American political writers Category:American writers of German descent Category:Baptists from the United States Category:Classical liberals Category:Conservatism in the United States Category:Drug policy reform activists Category:Duke University alumni Category:Gettysburg College alumni Category:Internet memes Category:Libertarian Party (United States) presidential nominees Category:Libertarian theorists Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas Category:Military physicians Category:People from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Category:People from Brazoria County, Texas Category:Physicians from Texas Category:Politicians from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Category:Texas Republicans Category:Texas Libertarians Category:United States Air Force officers Category:United States presidential candidates, 1988 Category:United States presidential candidates, 2008 Category:University of Pittsburgh people

Caption	Atkinson at the premiere for Mr. Bean's Holiday in March 2007
Birth name	Rowan Sebastian Atkinson
Birth date	January 06, 1955
Birth place	Consett, County Durham, England, United Kingdom
Current location	Danville, California
Medium	Stand-up, television, film
Genre	Physical comedy, satire
Influences	Peter Sellers, Charlie Chaplin, Jacques Tati Blackadder Mr. Bean The Thin Blue Line
Spouse
Child	Ben Atkinson, Lily Atkinson, Gemma Atkinson
Baftaawards	Best Light Entertainment Performance 1981 Not the Nine O'Clock News 1990 Blackadder Goes Forth
Olivierawards	Best Comedy Performance 1981 Rowan Atkinson in Revue

}}

Rowan Sebastian Atkinson (born 6 January 1955) is an English comedian, actor and writer. He is most famous for his work in the satirical sketch comedy show Not The Nine O'Clock News, and the sitcoms Blackadder, Mr. Bean, and The Thin Blue Line. He has been listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest actors in British comedy, His two older brothers are Rodney, a Eurosceptic economist who narrowly lost the United Kingdom Independence Party leadership election in 2000, and Rupert. While at Oxford, he also acted and performed early sketches for the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS), the Oxford Revue and the Experimental Theatre Club (ETC), meeting writer Richard Curtis and composer Howard Goodall, with whom he would continue to collaborate during his career.

Radio

Atkinson starred in a series of comedy shows for BBC Radio 3 in 1978 called "Atkinson People". It consisted of a series of satirical interviews with fictional great men, who were played by Atkinson himself. The series was written by Atkinson and Richard Curtis, and produced by Griff Rhys Jones. sets Atkinson apart as most modern television and film comedies rely heavily on dialogue, and stand-up comedy is mostly based on monologues. This talent for visual comedy has led to Atkinson being called "the man with the rubber face": comedic reference was made to this in an episode of Blackadder the Third, in which Baldrick (Tony Robinson) refers to his master, Mr. E. Blackadder, as a "lazy, big nosed, rubber-faced bastard".

Personal life

Marriage and children

Atkinson first met Sunetra Sastry in the 1980s, who was working as a make-up artist with the BBC. BAFTA Best Light Entertainment Performance – 1989

Whatsonstage Award for Oliver! – 2010

Nomination for Laurence Olivier Award for Oliver! – 2010

References

External links

Rowan Atkinson biography at BFI Screenonline

Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Newcastle University Category:Alumni of The Queen's College, Oxford Category:BAFTA winners (people) Category:Car collectors Category:English Anglicans Category:English comedians Category:English comedy writers Category:English film actors Category:English television actors Category:English voice actors Category:Living people Category:Mr. Bean Category:Old St. Beghians Category:People from Consett

Name	Jake Shields
Birth date	January 09, 1979
Birth place	Mountain Ranch, California, United States
Nationality	American
Height
Weight
Weight class	WelterweightMiddleweight
Reach
Style	Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Stance	Orthodox
Fighting out of	San Francisco, California
Team	Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Rank	NCAA Division I Wrestler
Years active	1999-Present
Mma win	26
Mma kowin	3
Mma subwin	11
Mma loss	4
Mma draw	1
Mma nc	0
Url	http://www.jakeshields.com/
Sherdog	502
Updated	October 27, 2010

}} }}

Jake Shields (born January 9, 1979) is an American mixed martial artist who is currently fighting in the welterweight division of the UFC. He is the last Rumble on the Rock 175 lb (79 kg) champion. He is the first and last Elite XC Welterweight Champion. He is also the former Shooto Middleweight Champion and is the former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.

He has trained extensively with Cesar Gracie, and is a member of the "scrap pack" which includes fellow Cesar Gracie students Dave Terrell, Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz and Gilbert Melendez. Since his last loss to Akira Kikuchi he has had 15 consecutive wins in 5 years. As of October 2010, Shields is ranked the #7 pound-for-pound fighter in the world by Sherdog, as well as the #4 welterweight fighter. He describes his style as American Jiu jitsu.

Early life

Shields was raised near Mountain Ranch, California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Shields 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.

Shields began amateur wrestling at age nine. He has competed in over 600 folk, freestyle, and submission wrestling matches. Shields was a four year varsity wrestler and state qualifier at Calaveras High School, finished 2nd place at the Amateur Athletic Union National Freestyle Championships, qualified for U.S.A./ Fila Nationals & World Team Trials in both the junior & university men's divisions. He is also a two time All American wrestler from Cuesta College. In September 1999, Shields began his MMA training by joining Chuck Liddell's SLO Kickboxing Academy. Within a few weeks he fought his first fight, filling in for an injured teammate at 185 lbs. Shields fought five fights at 185 lbs "for fun, to stay in shape and learn some self defense". In 2001, Shields decided he wanted to make a career of mixed martial arts and began fighting at his natural weight of 170 lbs (77 kg).

In the summer of 2001, Shields 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 jiu jitsu. He is a three time Grapplers Quest Advance Champion, Pan American Games Jiu Jitsu Champion, Pan Am Open Advance Submission Champion, Gracie Open Superfight Champion and finished 3rd place at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in 2005. He continued to improve on the kickboxing skills he picked up with Chuck Liddell, by cross-training with the professional Muay Thai kickboxing team at the Fairtex combat Academy, training with Muay Thai Champions Jongsanan Fairtex and Alex Gong. He was awarded the rank of black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by Cesar Gracie in February 2007.

Shields was the head instructor of BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) and MMA at the Fairtex-Gracie affiliate in San Francisco from March 2002 until April 2008.

Shields has developed a style of fighting called "American Jiu-Jitsu" which he has tattooed on his forearm. Shields' American Jiu-Jitsu for MMA and self-defense is a complete combat art that combines the relaxed and ready position and submission techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with the explosive takedowns, throws and transitions of world class wrestling.

Mixed martial arts

Among his victories are wins over Martin Kampmann, Dan Henderson, Paul Daley, Hayato Sakurai, Dave Menne, Carlos Condit and Yushin Okami. He is currently on a 15-fight winning streak, finishing eight of his last ten opponents. He has recent wins over Martin Kampmann, Dan Henderson, Robbie Lawler, Renato "Charuto" Verissimo and Mike Pyle. Shields has captured the Shooto World Mixed Martial Arts Championship and the Rumble on the Rock World Championship. He beat Nick Thompson for the Elite XC Welterweight World Championship in the first round via guillotine Choke. He captured the vacant Strikeforce Middleweight World Championship via unanimous decision in a match against Jason 'Mayhem' Miller. Most recently he beat the heavily favored Dan Henderson on April 17, 2010, to retain the middleweight title.

At he fought EliteXC's last middleweight champion and former two-time ICON Sport middleweight champion at a catchweight of . Lawler took the center of the cage and looked comfortable on his feet. Robbie Lawler said in the post fight interview, "His striking was good. He threw a lot of kicks. He worked. He threw hands and wasn't shying away from standup, that's for sure." Two minutes into the first round, Shields pounced and secured a guillotine choke to finish his opponent via submission at 2:02 of the first round.

At he fought Jason 'Mayhem' Miller for Strikeforce's vacant middleweight title after Cung Le stepped down as champion to pursue his acting career. Shields won the vacant Strikeforce Middleweight Championship when he defeated Jason "Mayhem" Miller via unanimous decision. Shields won the fight 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.

Shields successfully defended the Strikeforce Middleweight Title, defeating former Pride World Welterweight Champion Dan Henderson on April 17, 2010 at Strikeforce on CBS.

Shields is currently ranked in the pound-for-pound rankings by Sports Illustrated and Inside MMA, as well as being ranked in two weight classes, welterweight and middleweight.

Strikeforce: Nashville Post-Fight Brawl

Shields was one of the members of the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu team who participated in a post fight brawl live on CBS after Shields defeated Dan Henderson. Jason Miller gained unauthorized access to the cage and interrupted Shields interview with CBS sportscaster Gus Johnson, asking "Where's my rematch, buddy?", into the microphone referring to a previous fight between the two at in 2009. Gilbert Melendez shoved Miller and Nick Diaz threw a punch at him and the brawl followed. The fight was broken up by referees, members of Dan Henderson's corner and members of security. Shields, Miller and four others were given three-month suspensions and fines of $5,000-$7,500. Miller was also dropped from his next fight by Strikeforce for entering the cage without permission.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Shields was spotted and shown on camera next to Dana White at the WEC 48 PPV. Dana White saying "He's mine!" with his arm around Shields, this fueled rumors of Shields signing with the UFC. Jake Shields stated in an interview that it was tough for Strikeforce to provide him with exciting fights and this would be a key aspect in his decision to stay or leave. Dana White also stated in this interview he would be willing to pay huge sums to strip away one of Strikeforce's champions. This has further fueled speculation that Shields would leave Strikeforce for the UFC.

On June 30, Strikeforce released Shields from the organization during his contract renegotiation period. Shields then entered into talks with the UFC, with his manager and father Jack Shields stating that his son is eager to fight against top UFC fighters, such as Anderson Silva. In July 2010, it was reported that Shields was close to signing a deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship to compete in the promotion's Welterweight division.

Shields made his UFC debut against Martin Kampmann on October 23, 2010 at UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez. Prior to Shields's UFC debut, UFC President Dana White stated that Shields is most likely next for a shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship between the winner of Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck if he defeated Martin Kampmann at UFC 121 on October 23. After Shields defeated Kampmann via a controversial split decision, White later confirmed that Shields would receive a title shot against the St. Pierre-Koscheck winner.

Georges St-Pierre won his UFC 124 bout against Josh Koscheck. So now, Shields is set to fight St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight championship on April 30, 2011, at UFC 129 in Toronto.

Personal life

Shields is a single father to an eight-year old daughter. He has opened a studio in Berkeley called Shields' Gracie Fighter MMA and Fitness, and teaches there daily. He is a lifelong vegetarian.

Television and film

Shields appeared in three episodes of Bully Beatdown on MTV and MTV2 on April 12, 2009, a different episode on September 10, and again on an mtv.com exclusive episode, he was also in an episode of "True Life" on MTV. Shields is a co-producer for the MMA documentary Fight Life. Shields also served as a grappling coach for Chuck Liddell on The Ultimate Fighter 11 and, appeared on the channel Animal Planet for episodes of "Wild Recon" and "Venom in Vegas".

Championships and achievements

Mixed martial arts

Strikeforce

Strikeforce Middleweight Championship (1 time)

Professional Shooto Japan

Shooto Middleweight Championship (1 time)

Rumble on the Rock

Rumble on the Rock Welterweight Tournament Winner

Elite Xtreme Combat

Elite XC Welterweight Championship (1 time, first)

Mixed martial arts record

See also

List of male mixed martial artists

References

External links

Gracie Fighter Profile

Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:American mixed martial artists Category:American practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Category:Welterweight mixed martial artists Category:Middleweight mixed martial artists Category:Strikeforce champions Category:American vegetarians