UFC: Jake Shields signs with UFC

After about two weeks worth of negotiations, Jake Shields has inked a deal with UFC and is expected to return to the welterweight division after finishing his Strikeforce career as a middleweight.

“Jake Shields will be debuting at the 170-pound weight division in the UFC,” read an announcement on GracieFighter.com, a website owned by Cesar Gracie, Shields’ trainer. “After careful consideration and consulting with UFC representatives it was determined Jake would be finally going back to his original fighting weight.

“Jake’s opponent is one of the UFC’s top contenders and will be announced shortly.”

Shields, who holds a 25-4-1 MMA record, is on a 14-fight win streak that dates back to 2005. Sources indicated to TheSteelCage.net during the week leading up to UFC 116 that Shields was in negotiations with the company.