The headliner of "UFC Fight Night 25: Battle on the Bayou" remains intact.
Onetime UFC welterweight challenger Jake Shields (26-5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will still face Jake Ellenberger (25-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) despite the loss of his father and manager Jack Shields, a source close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
"UFC Fight Night 25: Battle on the Bayou" takes place Sept. 17 at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Its main card airs live on Spike TV.
Jake Shields' participation was in doubt following his father's death, which occurred Tuesday. According to Graciefighter.com, the website of his longtime trainer Cesar Gracie, Jack Shields passed in his sleep.
"Lost my father manager and one of my best friends today!" Jake Shields wrote on the website. "R.I.P Jack, you will be greatly missed and loved by many."
The Sept. 17 fight is the welterweight's first since an unsuccessful bid at UFC 129 for champ George St-Pierre's title. Although a late-fight surge from Shields broke the champ's streak of 30 consecutive rounds won, he ultimately fell short on scorecards. The loss broke a 15-fight win streak stretching back to 2005 that included titles in the now-defunct EliteXC (at welterweight) and Strikeforce (at middleweight).
Source: Source: UFC Fight Night 25 headliner not in danger despite Jake Shields' loss