Longtime top ranked welterweight fighter Jake Shields has been released from his UFC contract.
The decisions comes three weeks after Shields lost a unanimous decision to Hector Lombard at UFC 171.
His management team released the following statement to MMAFighting.com:
“Jake Shields has been released by the UFC. Jake appreciates the opportunities provided by the UFC and thanks Dana White and Lorenzo Fertita. Jake is an elite athlete who is one of the best welterweight fighters in the world with a long history of winning at a championship level.
Shields holds a 29-7-1 record with one no contest as well. He is a former EliteXC and Strikeforce Champion.
