The rumor appeared to have legs when Shields himself acknowledged receiving an offer to fight a "top 185-pounder". Shields, who is currently under contract with EliteXC said that he was hopeful that his promotion would let him fight.

“Right now I have a really good offer on the table to fight a top 185-pounder,” Shields told MMAWeekly. “I’m just waiting, hoping Elite (XC) will give me that opportunity to go out there and represent Elite and test myself."

That opportunity is highly unlikely according to a source within EliteXC. Our source told Fightline.com that while EliteXC is open to cross promoting where it makes dollars and sense, neither Shields nor Affliction have contacted them about a match-up. The source went on to say that EliteXC has its own plans for Shields which could include a fight on CBS/EliteXC Saturday Night Fights III; though nothing is etched in stone at this point.