Shields urges Melendez and Diaz to join the UFC

Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields has urged his Cesar Gracie team mates Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez to join him at the UFC.

Shields made his debut for the UFC against Martin Kampmann on Saturday night.

He told MMA Fighting: “Strikeforce is a good organization. But ultimately, I feel they don’t push the right people. I don’t feel like Nick & Gilbert have gotten the attention they deserve. They pick guys like Cung Le to push. And they push Gina Carano and Frank Shamrock.

“But they have Nick and Gil, who are both top five fighters in the world. UFC would be the best spot for both of them.”