The proposed EliteXC title bout between top welterweight contender Jake Shields and challenger Drew Fickett will be pushed back beyond the proposed June 14 date in Hawaii. EliteXC vice president Jared Shaw confirmed the news MMAWeekly Radio on Thursday night.
“Obviously the back injury happened (to Shields) and the easiest thing to do was move him to Hawaii to fight Drew,” said Shaw in the interview with MMAWeekly Radio. “Unfortunately since then Drew Fickett has hurt his knee and he’s not going to be able to take that fight on June 14 and that will be rescheduled again.”
Shaw didn’t discount the possibility of Shields still fighting on the June 14 card, but said that they are in discussions currently and Shields’ health is the main concern, as they want to guarantee his is back to 100% before fighting.
Shields disclosed in an interview with MMAWeekly.com earlier this week that he wasn’t sure if he’d be ready by the June 14 date.
“I think I could be okay to fight by (June 14), but I think opting for July would probably be the smartest thing,” he said. “It would give me more time to rehab before jumping into sparring, and I think there would be a little more exposure with it being on CBS (in July).”
Despite the loss of a potential match-up between Shields and Fickett, Shaw promised the fans in Hawaii wouldn’t be disappointed as he confirmed the lightweight title fight between K.J. Noons and Yves Edwards, as well as fights featuring Nick Diaz versus Muhsin Corbbrey, Murilo “Ninja” Rua against Tony Bonello, Rafael Feijao taking on Wayne Cole, and top heavyweight prospect Dave Herman against UFC and Pride veteran Ron Waterman.
