Throughout his career, Jake Shields has been recognized as one of the best mixed martial artists in the sport and he's eager to prove it's a status he still deserves.

The former Strikeforce and Elite XC champion will make his long-awaited return to action when he squares off with surging prospect Tyron Woodley this Saturday at UFC 161 in Winnipeg. The bout will also mark Shields' official return to the welterweight division—the weight class where he competed for a title back in 2011.

In addition to Shields getting back inside the cage, the welterweight tilt comes at a crucial time in the divisional picture, with the winner moving forward in the race and the loser getting reshuffled into the deck. The former No. 1 contender to the 170-pound crown is hungry to get back into title contention, and the first step of that process begins Saturday night against a talented up-and-comer in Woodley.

The 34-year-old Californian recently sat down with Bleacher Report's The Ultimate Show to talk about his return, serving Woodley a dose of humility and getting back to form in his fight career.