FiveKnuckles.com: Okay, so your 31-years-old, in the prime of your career, you haven't lost a fight in over six years and you've basically proven yourself to be one of the top 5 fighters in the world at both welterweight and middleweight. Can Strikeforce offer you the kind of fights that really excite you at this stage of your career?

Jake Shields: It's tough for them to do that. It's tough, and that will be one of the factors, but I don't want to jump to any conclusions yet. We need to sit down and see what Strikeforce has to offer and what they want to do. Obviously GSP and (Anderson) Silva are guys that I want to fight, but I'm not going to jump to any conclusions at this point.

FiveKnuckles.com: Before moving up to middleweight due to a lack of competition, you were considered one of the best welterweights in the world. Over the past year or so, with big victories over Robbie Lawler, Mayhem Miller and now Dan Henderson, you've proven yourself to be one of the best fighters at middleweight as well. If you do wind up in the UFC, what weight class will you compete at?

Jake Shields: Well, I think you've got to take on one weight on at a time for multiple reasons. With the losing weight, gaining weight, and also the UFC wants you at a certain weight, but if I were to capture a title at one, I'd like to go for the other one as well. I'm always looking for that next challenge. I love competition, so if I was to get a belt at one weight, I'd like to go for that second title as well.

FiveKnuckles.com: Have you held any discussions with the UFC regarding a possible move to the organization.

Jake Shields: Dana [White] and I haven't talked any business. We've talked, and we're on great terms and everything, but they're professionals. They will wait and talk to my manager, and wait until things are clear with the contract.

FiveKnuckles.com: What are your thoughts on the UFC as an organization.

Jake Shields: I'm a huge UFC fan. Have been since 1993 or '94 or so. I've loved the UFC ever since then. I've always been a big fan. I've got nothing bad to say about them.

FiveKnuckles.com: What would your career be like if you never get the opportunity to compete it the UFC?

Jake Shields: It probably wouldn't be quite complete. I think I've had a good run, had a good career. I've probably been one of the most successful fighters outside the UFC. Fedor is obviously the biggest name outside the UFC. But it would be nice to say I fought in the UFC at least once (laughs). It would be a little weird to look back and say I was a top ranked middleweight and welterweight but I never fought in the UFC.

FiveKnuckles.com: Many fans may not know this, but you're a lifelong vegetarian. What's behind that? Have you ever eaten meat?

Jake Shields: I've only tried meat a few times, but I've never eaten it consistently. I just grew up that way. And now that I'm older and I've thought about it, it creeps me out. The whole meat industry is kind of gross, and it's not the healthiest thing to put in my body so I feel pretty good about being a vegetarian.

FiveKnuckles.com: You're also a single father with a nine-year-old little...