Claressa Shields News
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PFL CEO Peter Murray reveals Claressa Shields to return in November
Josh Evanoff - August 4, 2022
PFL women’s lightweight Claressa Shields will return to the cage before the end of the year. The 27-year-old has been out of the cage since her decision defeat to Abigail Montes last October. The victory set her to 1-1 in the MMA cage, as he had previously signed to the PFL in 2020. She debuted with an impressive knockout defeat of Brittney Elkin in June 2021.
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Dana White blasts Jake Paul following critical comments of Claressa Shields: "He better be careful, she might knock him out"
Adam Martin - October 29, 2021
Dana White blasted Jake Paul following his critical comments of Claressa Shields, saying “he better be careful, she might knock him out.” Paul criticized Shields following her loss to Abigail Montes at the PFL Championship and soon afterwards, Shields fired back at the YouTuber-turned-boxer. In Abu Dhabi ahead of UFC 267, White was asked if he heard the comments that Paul made towards Shields, and he said that he did. As far as White goes, Paul is biting off a bit more than he can chew.
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Claressa Shields reacts following loss at PFL 10, responds to criticism from Jake Paul
Harry Kettle - October 29, 2021
Claressa Shields has hit back at Jake Paul’s criticism after her defeat to Abigail Montes at PFL 10 on Wednesday. After a successful mixed martial arts debut earlier this year, Claressa Shields was handed her first loss in the sport at PFL 10 when she suffered a split decision loss to Abigail Montes. While Montes was the deserving winner, Shields definitely showcased some progress in many aspects of her game.
![Jake Paul, Conor McGregor](https://staging.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Jake-Paul-Conor-McGregor--118x78.jpg)
Jake Paul taunts Claressa Shields following her first career MMA loss at PFL 10
Harry Kettle - October 28, 2021
Jake Paul taunted Claressa Shields last night in the wake of her first mixed martial arts defeat at PFL 10. In what was just her second professional MMA contest, Shields battled it out with Abigail Montes and came up on the wrong end of a split decision loss. It marks her first pro defeat in combat sports with her boxing record currently sitting at 11-0.
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Claressa Shields targets 2023 as year for first PFL tournament
Drake Riggs - October 1, 2021
FORT LAUDERDALE — Claressa Shields is fully committed to forging a strong and viable MMA career. The former three-division 11-0 boxing champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist joined MMA as a PFL lightweight in 2021. The tournament formatted promotion currently has Shields on the outside looking in as she keeps gaining experience after successfully debuting in June with a third-round TKO against Brittney Elkin.
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Claressa Shields returns to the cage in PFL against promoter newcomer
Adam D Martin - August 12, 2021
Boxer-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields will make her second walk to the PFL cage later this year when she faces a promotional newcomer. The Washington Post revealed that Shields will take on Abigail Montes at the PFL Championship on Wednesday, October 27. Montes is 2-0 as a professional MMA fighter and is just 21 years old. She has previously competed in the Combate Americas and iFF organizations in her native Mexico, where she has defeated both of her opponents.
![Claressa Shields, Conor McGregor](https://staging.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Claressa-Shields-2-118x78.png)
Claressa Shields returns to the PFL cage in August
Adam D Martin - June 23, 2021
Boxer-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields returns to the PFL cage in August when she competes for the second time in mixed martial arts. Shields made her MMA debut earlier this month when she finished Brittany Elkin via third-round TKO for a successful first foray into mixed martial arts. It wasn’t an easy fight for Shields, who struggled with her takedown defense for the first two rounds of the fight as Elkin dominated her on the mat. However, Shields was able to conserve her gas tank, and when Elkin started to get tired in the third round of the fight, Shields started to unload massive ground and pound on her opponent and pick up the first win of her MMA career.
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Kayla Harrison talks Claressa Shields MMA debut, 'this is not boxing'
Drake Riggs - June 17, 2021
Claressa Shields is officially an MMA fighter following a successful PFL 4 debut against Brittney Elkin this past Thursday. Inevitably, fans are expecting a clash of Olympic gold medals pitting Shields against the 9-0 Kayla Harrison. Currently looking to claim yet another PFL crown through the lightweight tournament, Harrison recently shared her thoughts on the boxing legend’s victory.
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Claressa Shields says women's MMA is marketed better than in boxing, 'It's fair'
Drake Riggs - June 14, 2021
Claressa Shields made a successful MMA debut this past Thursday night at PFL 4. The 26-year old Flint, Michigan native is 11-0 as a professional boxer with two Olympic gold medals to her name. Shields now comfortably gets ready to build some momentum in her new sport.
![Claressa Shields, Conor McGregor](https://staging.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Claressa-Shields-2-118x78.png)
PFL 4 Results: Claressa Shields earns a third-round TKO victory in her MMA debut (Video)
Harry Kettle - June 11, 2021
Boxing star Claressa Shields made a successful debut in mixed martial arts with a TKO win at PFL 4 last night. There was a whole lot of speculation heading into last night’s event with regards to how Shields would look at this level. Some felt as if she’d blow through Brittney Elkin, who was 3-6 coming into the fight, but others recognised that having nine fights more than your opponent in MMA is always going to serve as a helping hand – even with a 3-6 record.
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Claressa Shields calls teammate Holly Holm the "cheat code" ahead of PFL and MMA debut
Adam D Martin - June 7, 2021
Boxer-turned-MMA fighter Claressa Shields called teammate Holly Holm the “cheat code” ahead of her upcoming PFL and mixed martial arts debut. Shields makes her official professional MMA debut this Thursday at PFL 4 when she takes on Brittany Elkin in a non-tournament women’s lightweight bout. Shields is one of the best women’s boxers on the planet but she has said for a few years now that MMA was her goal, and she will finally make her debut in mixed martial arts later this week against Elkin.
![Claressa Shields, Conor McGregor](https://staging.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Claressa-Shields-2-118x78.png)
Claressa Shields thanks Conor McGregor for support, offers MMA star some advice
Tom Taylor - February 26, 2021
Decorated boxing champion Claressa Shields has responded to a message of support from Conor McGregor, and offered the Irishman some advice in return. Shields, a multi-division boxing champion, is gearing up to venture into mixed martial arts under the PFL banner.
![Claressa Shields, Conor McGregor](https://staging.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Claressa-Shields-2-118x78.png)
Claressa Shields explains why she signed with PFL over UFC
Tom Taylor - December 28, 2020
Three-division boxing champion Claressa Shields has explained why she decided to sign with the Professional Fighters League instead of the UFC. Shields, one of the best female boxers ever, has been plotting a move to MMA for some time. She’ll finally make that transition in the PFL cage in 2021–contrary to some interest from the UFC.
![Jon Jones, UFC 247](https://staging.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Jon-Jones-15-118x78.png)
Jon Jones would be "dangerous" as heavyweight boxer, says Claressa Shields
Adam Martin - December 24, 2020
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones would be “dangerous” as a heavyweight boxer, says Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields. Jones is set to move up to the UFC heavyweight division in 2021, and Shields believes he could eventually make the transition to heavyweight boxing. Speaking to Heavy.com, Shields said that, from what she’s seen with training with Jones at Team Jackson – Wink, Jones has what it takes to succeed in boxing, noting she doesn’t see WWE in his future.
![John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor](https://staging.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/John-Kavanagh-Conor-McGregor-118x78.png)
John Kavanagh slams Claressa Shields for telling MMA fans to "bow down"
Tom Taylor - December 9, 2020
Famed MMA coach John Kavanagh has some choice words for boxing star Claressa Shields, who recently told MMA fans to “bow down” to her. Shields is widely regarded as the best female boxer in the world, and is slated to make her MMA debut in the PFL cage in 2021. Ahead of her debut, Shields is demanding respect from MMA fans for being bold enough to make the transition between sports.
![Claressa Shields, Conor McGregor](https://staging.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Claressa-Shields-2-118x78.png)
Claressa Shields: "MMA fans need to bow down and kiss my feet"
Adam Martin - December 9, 2020
The No. 1 pound-for-pound female boxer in the world, Claressa Shields, says that “MMA fans need to bow down and kiss her feet” ahead of her pro debut. Shields, a former Olympic gold medalist in boxing, has been teasing a debut in mixed martial arts for a few years now. Many thought that she would sign with the UFC outright due to her name recognition in boxing, but Shields surprised the MMA world when she decided to sign with PFL, instead. The Flint, Michigan native will make her mixed martial arts debut sometime in 2021 in a non-tournament bout in PFL, and it’s a big deal.
![Claressa Shields, Conor McGregor](https://staging.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Claressa-Shields-Conor-McGregor-118x78.jpg)
Conor McGregor sends advice, encouragement to PFL-bound Claressa Shields
Tom Taylor - December 7, 2020
Former two-division UFC champ Conor McGregor has some words of advice for boxing star Claressa Shields, who will transition to MMA under the PFL banner in 2021. Shields, a three-division boxing champ at just 25 years old, will make her MMA debut in the PFL cage in 2021. Ahead of that debut, Shields has been training at JacksonWink MMA alongside former UFC champs Jon Jones and Holly Holm. She’s also received some advice from another former UFC champ in McGregor.
![Jon Jones, Claressa Shields](https://staging.bjpenn.com/wp-content/uploads/Jon-Jones-Claressa-Shields-118x78.png)
Claressa Shields trains with Jon Jones, Holly Holm ahead of MMA move
Tom Taylor - December 7, 2020
Three-division boxing champion Claressa Shields has enlisted the help of two former UFC champs as she prepares to transition into mixed martial arts. Shields, widely considered one of the greatest female boxers of all time, recently signed with the Professional Fighters League, where she will begin her MMA journey in 2021.
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