Claressa Shields has been barred from attending future events hosted by Most Valuable Promotions following a heated altercation with Alycia Baumgardner during last weekend’s high-profile fight card in California.
The incident took place at the Rousey vs. Carano event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, which marked MVP’s first MMA show in partnership with Netflix. According to multiple reports and video clips circulating online, tensions between the two champions escalated in a VIP area, where Shields appeared to make physical contact with Baumgardner during a verbal exchange.
In response, MVP released a firm statement confirming disciplinary action against Shields.
“Most Valuable Promotions is aware of the incident… involving physical contact by Claressa Shields toward Alycia Baumgardner,” the statement read. “MVP maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for hostile, threatening, or aggressive behavior… Physical altercations outside the ring or cage are unacceptable.”
The promotion went on to confirm that Shields is now banned from all future MVP events until further notice, emphasizing that her actions did not align with the standards they aim to uphold.
“There is a time and a place for fighter tension and banter, but to physically attack a fellow athlete while there as a guest… is unacceptable,” the statement continued, while also acknowledging venue security for quickly stepping in and preventing further escalation.
The rivalry between the two fighters had already been brewing on social media in the days leading up to the event, making their in-person confrontation unsurprising, though the situation quickly crossed a line.
Shields later addressed the incident online, defending her actions and claiming she had been provoked, while Baumgardner responded with a brief but pointed message: “Checkmate.”