“For me, potentially I have another project, and I know I’m not in fight shape right now, and I think I should vacate my title because it’s not fair to them who their livelihood is fighting for an interim title when I’m here running around making movies and doing something different. It does not mean that I’m retiring; I’m just doing it because I think it’s the right thing to do… because I’m not ready to step up in the next coming months and fight five-rounders. I definitely intend to return, and I know for a fact that I will return, but I can’t just jump back in and be able to go five rounds at peak level when I left (after) the fight with Frank (Shamrock).”  -Cung Le

Cung Le comments to MMAWeekly.com about his decision to vacate the Strikeforce middleweight title and why he has had a long absence from the California-based promotion. Le hasn't fought in over a year and half as he has been busy taking numerous roles, which includes a role in the big screen version of the popular video game "Tekken" and a role in the upcoming sci-fi thriller Pandorum. He isn't expected to compete until at least early 2010 as he has more Hollywood related projects on the forefront.

The middleweight bout between Jake Shields and Jason "Mayhem" Miller was first supposed to be for the interim Strikeforce middleweight title, with the winner to face Cung Le at the end of the year. However, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker recently announced that Le would be vacating the middleweight title because he has more movie roles coming up. The Shields vs. Miller bout on Nov. 7 will now be for the undisputed Strikeforce middleweight title.

Le hasn't fought since capturing the Strikeforce middleweight title by defeating Frank Shamrock in March 2008. He sports an undefeated 6-0 MMA record, with all wins being with Strikeforce. All of his wins have came via TKO or KO and he holds notable wins in his career over UFC veterans Tony Fryklund, Jason Von Flue and Sam Morgan.