Claressa Shields has been barred from attending future events hosted by Most Valuable Promotions following a heated altercation with Alycia Baumgardner during last weekendās high-profile fight card in California.
The incident took place at the Rousey vs. Carano event at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, which marked MVPās 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.
Claressa Shields has been banned from all MVP events after slapping Alycia Baumgardner at the Ronda Rousey fight š³
In response, MVP released a firm statement confirming disciplinary action against Shields.
āMost Valuable Promotions is aware of the incidentā¦ involving physical contact by Claressa Shields toward Alycia Baumgardner,ā the statement read. āMVP maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for hostile, threatening, or aggressive behaviorā¦ Physical altercations outside the ring or cage are unacceptable.ā
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.
āThere is a time and a place for fighter tension and banter, but to physically attack a fellow athlete while there as a guestā¦ is unacceptable,ā the statement continued, while also acknowledging venue security for quickly stepping in and preventing further escalation.
Most Valuable Promotions is aware of the incident during MVPās Rousey vs. Carano event on Saturday night involving physical contact by Claressa Shields toward Alycia Baumgardner.
MVP maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for hostile, threatening, or aggressive behavior towardā¦ pic.twitter.com/gUbXTsBH4I
— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) May 19, 2026
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: āCheckmate.ā
Imma continue giving bitches hell respectfully šš that lil ass girl said āIāll beat your ass right nowā after already disrespecting me. Now you classy and playing victim. Canāt go around threatening people, take that šš¾ & try and GET YOUR LICK BACK! #GWOATpic.twitter.com/ivUmSpe97t
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) May 18, 2026
Boxing icon Claressa Shields has given her thoughts on potentially fighting MMA/boxing star Cris Cyborg at some point in the future.
For the longest time now, Claressa Shields has been seen as one of the best female boxers in the sport. On the flip side, Cris Cyborg is one of the best female mixed martial artists ever. Of course, both have crossed over into the other’s dominant sport, but up to this point in time they’ve never fought one another.
Professionally, that is. They’ve sparred in the past but right now, given where they’re at in their careers, it doesn’t seem overly likely that we’re going to get Claressa Shields vs Cris Cyborg.
With that being said, Claressa Shields actually had the following to say about a potential matchup – and she didn’t hold back.
Claressa Shields takes a shot at Cris Cyborg
āCris Cyborg is not vocal about [expletive]. Sheās a hater and sheās ugly.ā
āShe wanted me to go down to 47 and fight her with 12-ounce gloves or some bull crap. She doesnāt really want to fight.ā
āSheās fighting girls who are trash in boxing, girls who the commission wouldnāt even let get inside the ring with me for sparring. I should have knocked her out when we sparred, but we were friends.ā
āCris Cyborg cannot box.ā
Shields is still only 30 years of age whereas Cyborg is 40. Who knows, maybe it’ll happen one day – but for now, trash talk is all that we’re going to get.
Claressa Shields, one of the all-time greats in women’s boxing, recently spoke about the impact the sport has had on her life and career. Shields, a multiple-division world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, credits boxing with giving her a sense of purpose and discipline.
Claressa Shields
āBoxing gave me a voice. It gave me physical strength and it helped develop me mentally,ā Shields said, in an interview with Sway. She explained that even if she had stopped boxing, the lessons she learned from the sport would have stayed with her. āIn order to have anything in life, you have to work hard and you have to be dedicated and have discipline. And thatās what everybody needs in life to do whatever that theyāre doing.ā
Claressa Shields also reflected on her influence in womenās boxing and how she has contributed to changing the landscape of the sport. She compared her approach to that of earlier champions, noting, āI think that with womenās boxing, I brought a whole new game. I think that Laila [Ali] came in, you know, she came with the class and everything, but it wasnāt no trash talk back then.ā Shields said she brought a different energy to the ring, combining her Olympic success with a confident attitude. āI kind of came out the gate with the trash talk, the Olympic gold medals. I made sure, Iām a beast, but Iām also a beauty.ā
Claressa Shields has held world titles in multiple weight classes and has become an outspoken advocate for womenās boxing. Shields often addresses the need for greater visibility and respect for female fighters, using her platform to push for equal opportunities in the sport. Her willingness to speak out, both inside and outside the ring, has made her a leading voice for change.
Claressa Shieldsā most recently faced Danielle Perkins she defended her undisputed title. Priot to that she knocked out Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in Detroit, USA, to capture the heavyweight crown. As of May 2025, Shields has not officially announced her next bout, but she has expressed interest in both high-profile boxing matches.
For Claressa Shields, boxing is a passion that has shaped her identity. āJust let them know itās okay to be passionate about what you do. Iām passionate about boxing. I love fighting. Thereās nothing I can do about it.”
Decorated boxer Claressa Shields has many accomplishments, including being a boxing champion to have competed and win an MMA match.
The list of accolades continues to grow for “T. Rex.” By age 26, Claressa Shields has taken home Olympic gold twice, won numerous boxing championships across weight classes, and now sports a win in the PFL.
Claressa Shields, Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp
Shields won her MMA debut by TKOing Brittney Elkin, then she went on to her next match a few months later.
Though the undefeated boxer fought hard, she took the first loss of her professional fighting career via split decision against Abigail Montes.
She still considers herself “The Greatest Woman Of All Time” and prides herself on stepping up to the challenge of MMA. Currently a lone wolf in her acts, Shields blames “egos” for other boxers not following suit.
āEgo, men have a lot of egos, a lot of boxers have egos. They want to be great at what theyāre great at and the minute theyāre faced with something uncomfortable or abnormal, they donāt want to do it,” Shields explains to SunSport.
Many boxers tried their hand at mixed martial arts. Famous names in the realm of boxing such as James Toney, and Ricardo Mayorga made an effort in the sport. While revered boxing champions, they both met failure in their MMA debuts and retired from the sport.
Notably, former boxer and UFC veteran LaVerne Clark saw success in MMA. He won his UFC debut, and from 1998 to 1999, won 9 fights in a row, mostly by TKO.
In recent years, no other boxing champions besides Shields has made an attempt at mixed martial arts. It’s been over 10 years since fellow boxing legend Holly Holm set out on her MMA journey, in which she became UFC women’s bantamweight champion.
Holly Holm, Image Credit: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Image
Undoubtedly, some fighters fear their perfect records being tarnished by a loss. However, Shields plans to take her MMA career all the way to the top.
A championship belt in MMA may be the toughest challenge of her combat career, but she refuses to back down.
āItās unprecedented, itās never been done before and thatās what people want to see, extraordinary things. And the fact that Iām willing to put my reputation, my record, put everything on the line to achieve the PFL world title, it shows my character,” Calaressa continues.
From the Olympics to boxing to MMA, Shields proves her tenacity is unmatched.
Shields plans to reappear in the PFL in 2023 to continue her legacy. Perhaps Shields will start a trend of professional boxers turned successful MMA fighters.
Are you excited for Claressa Shields’s next MMA bout?
Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields spoke on conflict with Jake Paul and seemed willing to drop their beef.
Since 2016, Claressa “T. Rex” Shields has dominated women’s boxing. She is the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals and has won multiple world championships in three separate weight classes.
12-0 in her professional boxing career, Claressa Shields is easily a revered champion. And in 2021, the superstar made a switch to mixed martial arts.
She won her MMA debut against Brittney Elkin by TKO at PFL 4 last June. However, later in the year, Shields lost via split decision against Abigail Montes, and immediately following that loss, Jake Paul had a few choice words.
āThe only beef I have with Jake Paul is donāt ever disrespect me, you know what Iām sayinā? Like, he tried to kick me when I was down and also going into a new sport,” Shields said in an interview with TMZ Sports. “I lost a split decision. I didnāt get submitted, I didnāt get knocked out, I didn’t get beat up, it was a split. And Iām also brand new at MMA. And when he made that comment, calling me a loser and stuff, thatās what really made me want to fight him.
“And then itās like, you canāt call me a loser because you donāt box better than me and you damn sure donāt do MMA better than me. You donāt do nothing better than me. Thatās it. To kick somebody while theyāre down but never give them their props when they’re up, that was kinda wack to me and thatās why I didnāt have no respect for him,ā Shields explains on TMZ Sports.
“Let’s put this behind us and work together to continue to build women’s boxing,” Paul tweeted.
Recently, Jake Paul helped promote a highly anticipated boxing match between undisputed champions Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, which Shields expressed an appreciation for and thus met Paul halfway in his olive-branch extension.
āBut now, I just wish him the best,” Shields said. “I wish him the best. If he ever wanna spar, itās always up in the air. Itās always an option. Because I do owe him a couple blows,” Shields said half-jokingly. “But other than that, I think what heās doing for Amanda is great. I think him getting involved in helping the fight with Katie Taylor getting made is great for Amanda, and Katie, and itās great for womenās boxing. So I appreciate him for that,ā Shields continued.
Considering women’s boxing is a high priority for both athletes, perhaps their quarrel can now be swept under the rug.
Do you think this is the end of the Claressa Shields and Jake Paul beef?
Claressa Shields put the rest of the boxing world on notice that she’s here to stay in the ring after a dominant win over Ema Kozin.
Shields overwhelmed Kozin from start to finish in her boxing return in the UK, earning a 100-90 unanimous decision victory to move to a 12-0 professional boxing record. The win retained her WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring female middleweight titles.
Just minutes after the fight, Shields walked ringside to confront her rival, Savannah Marshall. She and Marshall competed once before on the amateur scene, with Marshall earning the win.
The two went back-and-forth on the microphone and tempers flared fast and in a hurry at the Motorpoint Arena.
It had been nearly a full calendar year since Shields last competed in the ring. She defeated Marie-Eve Dicaire via unanimous decision last March to retain her titles.
In between boxing fights, Shields had been training in MMA and made her professional debut in the PFL in 2021. She competed twice, earning a debut TKO win over Brittney Elkin before falling short against Abigail Montes in an undercard fight at the 2021 PFL Championships.
Shields has called out some of the biggest names in MMA, including Kayla Harrison and Cris “Cyborg” Justino. It’s unclear whether or not Shields will compete in the PFL lightweight tournament season or if she’ll fight in non-tournament bouts.
Marshall is slated to face Femke Hermans next on March 12. With a win, Shields would more than likely be her next opponent, especially after the recent verbal exchange.
Shields defeated Hermans via unanimous decision in 2018.
Do you want to see the rematch between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall next?
Claressa Shields wants to face the best female fighters in combat sports in both MMA and boxing.
Shields is set to make her boxing return against Ema Kozin to defend her various titles. She has remained adamant in her desire to remain active in both boxing and MMA simultaneously going forward.
Shields has accumulated a 1-1 record in MMA, earning an impressive win over Brittney Elkin followed by a split-decision defeat to Abigail Montes in the PFL. She trains down at Jackson-Wink MMA in New Mexico alongside top MMA talents such as Holly Holm and formerly Jon Jones.
Despite her relative inexperience in MMA, she has massive goals with this combat sports venture. During a recent interview with Sirius XM, Shields called out some of the best female MMA fighters for matchups in the future.
"I would want to try my luck with all those great women [Harrison, Nunes, Cyborg] because they're the best and I'm the best."@ClaressaShields joined @AngieOverkill and @RyanMcKinnell to discuss some dream MMA matchups ahead of her upcoming boxing match with Ema Kozin this week pic.twitter.com/tkN2U2gjv7
āI would love to get inside the cage, or the ring, with Amanda Nunes, Kayla Harrison, Cris Cyborg, all the girls who are at the top of MMA,” Shields said. “I would love to try my luck with them in MMA, and of course, in boxing. In MMA, weāve never had a fight where it was two Olympic gold medalists to fight each other, so that would be me and Kayla Harrison.
Kayla Harrison, Claressa Shields
“Amanda Nunes is just a force to be reckoned with. Sheās got a big punch, she can wrestle, she can do jiu-jitsu, sheās the best. Me being who I am, itās like, I wanna train hard enough and for the right amount of time to where if I ever had to get inside the cage with her. I want the world to know Iām about to give this woman hell, even though sheās the best!ā (h/t SportsKeeda)
It’s unclear if Shields will compete in the PFL’s lightweight tournament for the 2022 season or compete in non-tournament fights as she did last year. PFL chief executive Peter Murray assured fans that Shields is committed to her MMA development alongside her boxing competitions.
There’s no question that Shields poses some of the best striking in the PFL and arguably in women’s MMA today. However, her grappling is still a work in progress as she hopes to up her level of competition in years to come.
How do you think Claressa Shields would match up against some of the best MMA fighters?
Claressa Shields has opened up on her recent comments about never wanting to appear on a Jake Paul undercard.
Shields and Paul have taken shots at one another ever since “The Problem Child” entered boxing. She also criticized any boxer for appearing on his undercard. But recently, it was revealed throughĀ a report in USA Today Sports that Shields’ representatives reached out to see if she can be on the same card as Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr., and Jake Paul vs. Nate Robinson.
“First of all, this isn’t aboutĀ Jake Paul, this is about Claressa Shields and Ema Kozin,” she explained at a press conference to promote her fight (via Mirror). “As it was said, I don’t email about this stuff – I have a manager and I have a promoter, their job is to make opportunities for me. What you need to know is I was supposed to be on a Mike Tyson and Roy Jones undercard, not ever under Jake Paul – let’s get that clear. I don’t know what the emails said, and I really don’t care, but we’re not going to talk about that and give him the shine of this press conference.”
Jake Paul, Claressa Shields (Image Credits: Mike Ehrmann/Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Shields does make a good point that Tyson-Jones Jr. was the main event so she wouldn’t have been on a Jake Paul undercard as Paul’s management claimed, even though Paul was on the card. Shields even threatened to sue Paul’s management for suggesting she requested to be on a Jake Paul card.
Claressa Shields later added that she was done talking about the subject and is only focusing on her title fight and remaining undefeated in boxing.
“This is about me, this is about Ema, this is about world titles, this is about elite boxers,” Shields later added. “I’m just going to leave that there. Dmitry [her promoter, who was on the call] doesn’t even need to speak on it, managers do their job, promoters do their job and fighters train to get ready for our fights.”
What do you make of these new comments from Claressa Shields?
Claressa Shields is hoping former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo can teach her wrestling as she continues to fight in MMA.
Shields is considered arguably the best pound-for-pound women’s boxer in the world, as she’s 11-0 and is the only boxer in history, female or male, to hold all four major world titles in boxingāWBA, WBC, IBF, andĀ WBO simultaneously, in two weight classes. She has had multiple titles in three different weight classes and is undisputed in two.
However, she has been critical about boxing’s pay and how much interest they show in women, so she signed with the PFL to also fight in MMA. However, after winning her debut, she lost her second fight after being outgrappled and is now looking to turn to Cejudo to help her.
“Goats recognize goat. Maaahhhhh,” Cejudo wrote, with Shields responding with “Let’s go! I’m ready to learn!”
It shouldn’t be a surprise to see Henry Cejudo offer to train Claressa Shields as since retiring from MMA, he has taken up a coaching role at Fight Ready. Cejudo has recruited the likes of Deiveson Figueiredo, Weili Zhang, and JiÅĆ ProchĆ”zka to Fight Ready and has been coaching all three of them, including being in Figueiredo’s corner at UFC 270.
Cejudo is an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling and was a great wrestler in MMA, which led him to win titles in two different weight classes. His expertise would no doubt help Shields, who was taken down multiple times in both her fights. And in the second fight, wrestling was the reason she lost.
However, if she can learn enough to just keep the fights standing, she will be dangerous, as she has power in her hands and is a phenomenal boxer overall.
Do you think Claressa Shields and Henry Cejudo will train with one another?
Claressa Shields is out to remind the boxing world who she believes is the best female boxer in the sport after her recent MMA fights.
Despite signing with PFL, Shields has remained adamant that she intends to fight in both boxing and MMA going forward. Her debut season in the league featured a mixed bag, with a comeback win over Brittney Elkin followed up by a decision loss to Abigail Montes.
Shields will now face Ema Kozin as she defends her WBC, WBA, and IBF middleweight world titles in her U.K. debut. During a recent media appearance in Detroit, she reiterated her intentions to show boxing fans how great she is in the ring.
āThe boxing world has forgotten who the best female fighter is since Iāve been doing MMA,” Shields said. “The other girls like Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor have been showcasing some great skills, but Iām planning to showcase even better skills in my fight on February 5. Iām looking forward to coming back and showcasing my skills. In my last fight, I was coming off over a year layoff and I didnāt perform how I wanted to. When I watch back the film, I wasnāt sharp. I didnāt have the speed and the timing that I normally have.” (h/t 15Rounds.com)
During Shields’ absence from boxing, fighters such as Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor have risen to the top of the pound-for-pound discussion. A fight between Serrano and Taylor is expected to happen next in arguably the best fight in women’s boxing history.
What are your thoughts on Claressa Shields’ MMA future?
As her ongoing feud with Jake Paul continues, Claressa Shields has denied having knowledge of her manager’s apparent pursuit to get her onto the YouTuber’s cards.
The rivalry picked up when Paul chose to mock Shields following her first professional loss in combat sports last October. Having won her MMA debut with a memorable comeback, Shields was unable to overcome her ground deficiencies when she met Abigail Montes at the 2021 PFL Finale.
Abigail Montes, Claressa Shields, Jake Paul
After “The Problem Child” branded Shields a “loser” for her two-fight MMA career and attitude, the two-time Olympic gold medalist hit back on Twitter.
š this is funny. You come running when I lose a split decision in a while new world mma but never even once said ācongrats on all youāve done and aspire to do.ā 2 things that remain Jake, I still fight better than you & you wonāt accomplish 10% of what I have in boxing or life https://t.co/V6TpqSNkQW
āThis is funny. You come running when I lose a split decision in a while new world mma but never even once said ācongrats on all youāve done and aspire to do.ā 2 things that remain Jake, I still fight better than you & you wonāt accomplish 10% of what I have in boxing or life.”
Fast forward just over a month of further exchanges and Paul’s management team BAVAFA Sports made a surprising claim. In their own social media post, they suggested Shields’ team had been trying to get onto the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s cards, a sentiment shared by Paul to USA Today Sports+.
āWe didnāt want her on for many different reasons. She took that to heart,” claimed Paul.
Whatās hilarious is the multiple times you and your team tried to be a part of a Jake Paul event. Time reveals all. #Receipts
Unsurprisingly, Shields wasn’t about to let her reputation be damaged without a fight. In a Twitter rant, the 26-year-old threatened to sue Paul and his team for defamation.
@BAVAFASports yāall bout to get sued! Because Claressa Shields aināt never asked to be on Jake Paul undercard. You sound crazy as hell! My lawyer will be reaching out though! Use my name for clout. Iāll use your name for a check š° losers
In the tweet from Jake Paul’s management team, they hinted at having “receipts” that supported their claims. In leaked emails obtained by USA Today Sports+, that evidence has now come to light, and it makes for pretty grim reading for Shields and her team.
In correspondences sent to Paul’s manager Nakisa Bidarian by Shields’ manager Mark Taffet and promoter Dmitry Salita, the boxing champion’s team apparently pushed to get their client on two cards that featured Paul.
Per USA Today Sports+’s review of the emails, an initial pursuit of a place for Shields on the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. card in November 2020 didn’t come to fruition.
Discussing why there was no place for the “GWOAT,” Bidarian, who assisted Triller’s Ryan Kavanaugh ahead of the event, suggested she simply didn’t have the numbers or viewers to justify the remuneration her manager was after.
āClaressa is obviously one of the best female boxers of all time, but the numbers (of viewers) she has didnāt make sense for us in terms of what Mark was hoping to achieve for her (in purse money), so I didnāt think it added to the Tyson-Jones pay-per-view, which ended up being the eighth largest in history,ā said Bidarian.
While Shields was seemingly snubbed, Paul featured on the undercard, brutally knocking out former NBA star Nate Robinson and further extending his venture into the sport of boxing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CW00aVEpEAH/
Shields’ Manager Tries Again…
In another leaked email the next year, Taffet allegedly requested a spot for Shields on the April 17 card, which was built around and headlined by Paul’s clash with former ONE and Bellator welterweight titleholder Ben Askren.
Given Shields’ insistence that she’d never even think of competing on one of the Cleveland native’s cards, this revelation is more than shocking.
The leaked email, sent by Taffet to Bidarian on March 15, included Shields’ impressive feat of becoming the first boxer in history to simultaneously hold all four major world titles across two weight classes and championed for Triller to include her on their card.
“Claressa had a historic win ā¦ to become the first man or woman in the four-belt era to win an undisputed world title in two weight divisions. We are now beginning a plan for our next few fights, and would love to discuss out plan with you to see if Triller is interested in being the video platform of the world’s greatest female fighter. We would love to participate on your April 17 card if you have a slot available.”
After acknowledging Showtime’s decision to cut ties with Shields due to a disappointingly-low viewership, Bidarian, who is also a former UFC chief financial officer, turned down the request, and the card proceeded without the presence of the Michigan native.
āThere wasnāt a business need that made sense and Jake had not started to focus on, āWhat can I do for boxing as a whole?āā Bidarian said. āJake was still focused on building his own foothold into boxing.ā
https://www.instagram.com/p/CODXi9QLN4p/
Shields: “I Don’t Care What The Email Says”
Given Claressa Shields’ consistent and stern rebuttal that she wouldn’t consider fighting on a Jake Paul card, which has even seen legal threats and defamation claims, the leaked emails are certainly a less-than-positive look for her and her team.
With that in mind, it’s unsurprising she was quick to deny knowledge of them ever being sent or of her manager’s efforts to secure her place on the November 2020 and April 2021 cards.
Reacting to the emails, she told USA Today Sports+ there was “never” an instance where she was meant to or planning on competing at an event featuring “The Problem Chid,” nor would she ever consider doing so, no matter the size of the pay check.
āI was never, ever supposed to fight on an undercard of Jake Paul. I donāt care what the email says,” Shields said. āI would never do that, no matter how much theyāre paying me. And everything has to go through me.ā
Whether or not she had knowledge of the emails is one thing, but the fact her team sent them, knowing her apparent and public stance on the matter now, is surprising. Discussing why Paul’s team chose to release the emails to USA Today Sports+, Bidarian said they weren’t ready to let Shields “belittle” Paul.
āThe only reason weāre bringing this to light is because Claressa has felt this need to belittle Jake Paul,ā Bidarian said. āThe only thing weāre responding with now is, āHey, we have the receipts: You guys were trying to get on Jake Paulās cards.ā”
Despite her denial, some will certainly suggest Shields was open to doing business with Paul prior to their feud igniting later in 2021.
If Shields did have no idea of her team’s efforts to work with Paul’s team, it will likely have sparked a heated debate within the boxing champion’s camp, something she’ll hope to have resolved when she returns to action.
After professional boxing was suspended in the UK throughout January due to COVID-19, Shields’ scheduled clash with Slovenia’s Ema Kozin has been pushed back to February 5.
Whether this feud will die down or remain as heated as ever is anyone’s guess, but with Shields’ ongoing pursuit of glory both inside the ring and the cage and Paul’s blossoming venture into the ring set to continue throughout 2022, both will certainly have their hands full between the ropes.
What do you make of Shields’ team’s apparent attempts to get her onto the same cards as Jake Paul?
UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has praised undisputed light middleweight boxing titleholder Claressa Shields for making the transition to MMA.
Shields is widely regarded as one of, if not the greatest female boxer of all time. The 26-year-old has held multiple world championships across three weight classes and holds the record for achieving two and three-division title glory in the fewest amount of professional fights.
The undefeated Michigan native, who won back-to-back Olympic gold medals at the London and Rio games, has entered the ring 11 times as a pro, with gold being on the line on every occasion beyond her debut. Unlike most, success inside the squared circle wasn’t the end of Shields’ combat sports ambition.
While the same issues on the ground were present in her sophomore appearance, this time, she wasn’t able to mount a comeback. Against Abigail Montes At PFL 10, Shields fell to her first defeat as a professional in combat sports.
Adesanya Praises Shields For Trying “Real Fighting”
Shields is now set to turn her attention back to the sport of Boxing. On January 29, she’s set to put her WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles on the line against Slovenia’s Ema Kozin. But she’s insisted her journey in MMA is far from over, something the UFC’s middleweight king certainly respects.
In the latest episode of his UFC 271 Fight Camp vlog series, Adesanya lauded Shields for adding more disciplines to her game. According to “The Last Stylebender,” the 26-year-old is doing something most boxers are too afraid to doātry their hand at “real fighting.”
“People don’t understand. How do you think I’m a fucking world champion? With just one discipline? Fuck no! I know how to fight. I could’ve been a fucking boxer. Done the whole blueprint like I said. Same as a kickboxer. But I humble myself when I realized I want to be a full-fledged fighter, so I humble myself and I learn. I tell you one thing, Claressa Shields has got more ovaries than all you boxers have balls. ‘Cause she actually humbled herself as well and ventured into real fighting.” (h/t Sportskeeda)
Despite her setback, the message from Shields has been, “It’s not over.” She’ll now look to re-enter the win column by extending her unbeaten record and continuing her dominance in the boxing ring. If she does, it stands to reason we’ll be seeing “T-Rex” back in the cage later in 2022.
Do you agree with Israel Adesanya? Should Claressa Shields be praised for making the crossover to MMA?
On this day one year ago, we ran a story about Claressa Shields’ insistence that she will be the individual to prove that boxers can succeed in MMA. One year later, her record sits at 1-1, with Shields losing her most recent bout to Abigail Montes at the 2021 PFL Championships in October.
Although it cannot be denied that Shields suffered a setback and has much work to do before she can be successful in her mission, she has let it be known that she will not be deterred by her first defeat.
Here is a look back at Shields’ mindset before she ever stepped foot into an MMA cage in this story published one year ago. The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 26, 2020, 10:54 AM]
Headline: Claressa Shields Vows To Prove Boxers Can Succeed In MMA
PFL newcomer and boxing world champion Claressa Shields is eager to prove that boxers can indeed be successful in MMA.
Some would say that there is a common perception that boxers do not have what it takes to be successful at the highest level of MMA. Case in point, just ask anybody what Floyd Mayweatherās chances would have been against Conor McGregor in an MMA bout. Whether a casual fan or a hardcore MMA aficionado, odds are you would get a response of McGregor being at least a -1000 favorite after the person scoffed at the very question.
This belief is further perpetuated by the precedent of one James Toney, a former boxing heavyweight champion who attempted to cross over into MMA, only to get submitted in the first round of his lone MMA fight. This has served as a precautionary tale for boxers ever since.
But now, thereās Claressa Shields, an Olympic boxing gold medalist who is venturing into MMA full time in the Professional Fighters League. Shields feels that it goes beyond a perception that boxers canāt cut it in MMA but that it is a full-blown myth, one that she cannot wait to burst.
āListen, Iām excited and Iām just ready to prove everybody wrong,ā Shields told MMA Fighting. āNot everybody but all the doubters. It seems like everybody keeps saying like āoh anybody thatās come from boxing canāt be successful in MMA.ā
āLike they say look at James Toney, and I kind of laugh cause James Toney was 42 years old. Iām 25. He was also 42 years old and he went in there, I donāt know how long he prepared but he fought against one of the best guys that they had. Itās not that I wouldnāt do that, but Iām preparing. Iām taking it one step at a time.ā
It is true that James Toneyās submission loss came to a UFC Hall of Famer (Randy Couture) and that he was indeed 42 years old at the time. Claressa Shields, on the other hand, is only 25 years of age and is arguably the best female boxer in the world. And most importantly, unlike Toney, Shields is fully invested in putting in the work to becoming a complete mixed martial artist.
āIām not an egotistic person,ā Shields said. āI am the best womanās fighter in the world. There is no other woman fighter in boxing that can beat me in boxing, for sure. But going over to a whole other sport and saying that, itās just not true now. I have to work my way up from the bottom and learn and train and drill.ā
Claressa Shields plans to begin her mythbusting expedition around May or June of 2021 in a non-tournament fight in the PFL.
Do you believe there is a myth that boxers canāt cut it in MMA and that Claressa Shields will debunk it?
Claressa Shields is willing to take the fight to Jake Paul beyond the boxing gym and into the court of law.
This Saturday, Jake Paul returns to pay-per-view when he meets Tyron Woodley in a rematch of their August clash. However, the YouTuber may have another fight on his hands if he and his representatives are not mindful.
Last week, Jake Paul’s management team BAVAFA Sports made a shocking claim. They stated in a tweet that Claressa Shields requested to be placed on the undercard for Jake Paul events on multiple occasions. This was a curious revelation seeing as how adamantly Shields has refused to ever even consider doing such a thing in the past.
In fact, it was her open dismissal of that very idea that sparked a feud between herself and Paul, which included the YouTuber mocking her after her first MMA loss and Shields later challenging Paul to a $100,000 sparring match.
Once Shields saw the tweet from Paul’s management team, she issued a warning about making such claims.
Somebody bout to get sued for lying on my name. Canāt wait to call my lawyer tomorrow morning
“Somebody bout to get sued for lying on my name. Canāt wait to call my lawyer tomorrow morning.”
Never have I ever. Iām bout Sue @jakepaul & his team for defamation and of character cause I aināt never asked to be on no undercard of no YouTuber! https://t.co/RYGAA4zC5k
“Never have I ever. I’m bout Sue @jakepaul & his team for defamation and of character cause I ain’t never asked to be on no undercard of no YouTuber!”
@BAVAFASports yāall bout to get sued! Because Claressa Shields aināt never asked to be on Jake Paul undercard. You sound crazy as hell! My lawyer will be reaching out though! Use my name for clout. Iāll use your name for a check š° losers
“@BAVAFASports yāall bout to get sued! Because Claressa Shields aināt never asked to be on Jake Paul undercard. You sound crazy as hell! My lawyer will be reaching out though! Use my name for clout. Iāll use your name for a check losers”
They bout to have to write a check they ass gonna hate having to cash. Because you talk trash but lying on me is another story! Iām a BIG BOSS WITH A BIG LAWYER! https://t.co/F1ejXfQibi
After a fan stated that Shields was continuously being disrespected, the Olympic gold medalist put an end to the discussion with some strong closing remarks.
“They bout to have to write a check they ass gonna hate having to cash. Because you talk trash but lying on me is another story! Iām a BIG BOSS WITH A BIG LAWYER!”
Claressa Shields will be competing again on January 29 against Ema Kozin in a boxing match. Her MMA return has not yet been set, though she plans to compete again in 2022 following her loss to Abigail Montes in October.
Do you believe Claressa Shields has a potential legal case against Jake Paul and his representation for defamation of character?
Shields was the only boxer or mixed martial artist to make the list. The 26-year-old is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and is undefeated as a professional boxer at 11-0. This year, Shields went 2-0 in boxing, with victories over Marie-Eve Dicaire and Ivana Habazin, both via unanimous decision.
Claressa Shields vs. Marie-Eve Dicaire
Shields also made her MMA debut with the Professional Fighters League. She was successful in her debut, pulling out a come-from-behind victory over Brittney Elkin. She would then lose her follow-up bout to Abigail Montes, however.
Heading into her bout against Montes, Shields acknowledged that she’s learning as she goes, but expressed rocksteady confidence once her overall skillset matches her hands.
āIāve been learning on the job, and Iāve been just getting better and better,ā Shields told The Albuquerque Journal. āā¦ Iām being taught armbars and stuff, and Iām being taught how to get out of them. Theyāre showing me rear naked chokes, and Iām doing really good in wrestling and getting in great positions.
āThatās stuff that used to confuse me. Now I actually feel good doing them, and thatās just giving me more confidence for the future.ā
Shields joins the ranks of NBA star Devin Booker, MLB’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott to make this year’s Forbes list, to name a few.
Shields is currently scheduled to box Ema Kozin on January 29 and is expected to make her MMA return next year as well, though a hard date has not been set as of yet.
Is there anybody else from MMA that you think would be a good addition to join Claressa Shields on the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 List?
