Jake Shields looking to play the role of Buzz Killington in Japan as he is ready to spoil Yoshihiro Akiyama's homecoming at UFC 144 according to espn.com.

"I'd love to disappoint the Japanese crowd, I plan to go out there and stop Akiyama. I feel the best I've ever felt right now. I feel stronger and faster, and as long as I can keep this going up until the fight, I'm ready to destroy," Shields said.

Shields targets Akiyama to be the fight he needs to regain his footing in the welterweight division after two consecutive losses to George St. Pierre and a brutal KO to Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger. Although Shields acknowledges Akiyama's top tier Judo credentials, he has little fear of being submitted by the Japanese star and instead points to Akiyama's willingness to trade punches as something to watch out for.

"It would be stupid to say I can't be submitted by him, but I'm unlikely to be submitted by him. Ideally I'll take him down into my world and submit him. He's a really hard guy to take down and he's got good boxing so I'm working lots of stand-up for this fight," Shields said.

Akiyama will be looking to for new life as well after dropping three straight bouts, the most recent a KO loss to Vitor Belfort at UFC 133. Perhaps the biggest "X factor" heading into the bout is how Akiyama will fair in the welterweight division; his bout with Shields will be his debut at 170lb with the UFC having spent his previous four fights at middleweight.

Shields has big goals in 2012, becoming a contender again is on the top of the list. Will he be able to put Akiyama away to earn his desired title shot in 2013?

Shields vs. Akiyama are set for UFC 144 on February 26 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The event will air live on Saturday, February 25 in North America.