Jackson Explains Shields’ Eye Poke

Greg Jackson (Pictured), on “Beatdown,” discussing how Jake Shields poked Georges St. Pierre in the eye:

“Especially when you’re fighting somebody that’s bigger than you and they’re really launching a lot of power shots at you, it’s important to put something in the way. You can’t always just put your hand against your head like you do in boxing because the force isn’t dispersed in an [MMA] glove. A lot of times when you’re dealing with stronger people, you have to put your hands in the way and your arms in the way of their big shots and parry their big shots so they don’t get clean shots on you. Because one shot could end your night or your day. With your hands open like that it is much more of trying to anticipate the parry when punches come. I think what happened was Jake just didn’t think and he threw a jab, but his hand was still open. I don’t think Jake did it on purpose. I know him pretty well, and he’s a good guy.”