Claressa Shields Sets Sights on MMA Comeback, Aiming for PFL Title

31 December 2023

While reigning as an undefeated boxing champion with a 14-0 record, Claressa Shields hasn't abandoned her MMA aspirations. Despite her last MMA bout dating back to October 2021, where she experienced a split decision loss to Abigail Montes at the 2021 PFL Championships, Shields remains committed to making her mark in mixed martial arts.

Dispelling any notions that she might have moved past the MMA venture after her setback, the 28-year-old boxer is gearing up for her third MMA bout in the coming months.

Shields shared with MMA Junkie Radio, “It’s looking like February or maybe April. I’ve been training MMA with Murcielago Team in Lansing (Mich.) for the past few months, and I’ll continue training with them. I’ve been learning a lot. … I’m getting stronger in those fields that I’m not strong. I can’t say I’m strong on the ground, but I will be. I’m stronger than I was, so I’m just going to keep building from there."

Expressing her unyielding passion for fighting and competition, Shields emphasized that her drive for greatness propels her to explore various combat sports avenues. Despite excelling as a world champion boxer, she refuses to be complacent and aims to be the best in every facet of her fighting repertoire, even acknowledging the areas where she's still refining her skills.

“I love fighting,” Shields asserted. “I want to be the best fighter in the world. It doesn’t matter if it’s MMA or if it’s kickboxing or it’s boxing. I want to be the best.”

With an Olympic gold medalist background and her current standing as the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, WBF, and The Ring women’s middleweight titleholder in boxing, Shields sets ambitious goals. She envisions becoming the PFL champion and believes it's not only achievable but also within her grasp with focused training.

“I would like to become PFL champion,” Shields stated confidently. “I believe that it’s doable. I believe that it’s possible for me. Give me some years of training of just me making MMA a priority. I believe that I can be a PFL and boxing world champion at the same time. I know it’s big, but I feel like it’s achievable, 100 percent, for me.”