2011 3 Jan

GSP Back in Action Against Jake Shields at UFC 129 in Toronto on April 30

UFC President Dana White announced Saturday (via Yahoo! Sports) that Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre will defend his title as expected against Jake Shields at UFC 129 in Toronto on April 30.

With the recent news that Randy Couture will potentially return to fight Lyoto Machida at the same event, it’s now expected that this show will be the biggest in UFC history.

“GSP” will come into this match-up having run through nearly every challenger at 170-pounds matchmaker Joe Silva could possibly offer him. In fact, Shields just might be the only one left.

Shields entered the UFC as the reigning Strikeforce Middleweight Champion and riding a 14 fight winning streak. He was matched up against top contender Martin Kampmann and although he struggled with a bad weight cut, walked away with a split decision win.

A win for “GSP” may necessitate a jump up to middleweight for the champion but it also may mean a jump up in weight for Shields.

UFC 129 will also feature a light-heavyweight showdown between Randy Couture and Lyoto Machida.

Shields, a talented BJJ fighter, needs to get this fight to the ground to try and win — even there, it’ll be difficult to try and lock in a submission. Against GSP, the No. 1 welterweight and one of the best pound-for-pound top fighters, trying to get a takedown will be an extremely difficult task.

Shields won his UFC debut in 2010 when he picked up a split-decision win against Martin Kampmann at UFC 121. The fans voiced their displeasure after the disappointing performance, and a tough weight cut was blamed for the cardio problems. (Shields previously was fighting at middleweight during his remaining fights in Strikeforce.)

GSP last picked apart Josh Koscheck (again) to take a unanimous decision victory in the UFC 124 main event.