After conquering the world of women's boxing, Claressa Shields has decided to try her hand at mixed martial arts. Joining the Professional Fighters League, Shields will make her MMA debut against Brittney Elkin on June 10 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
"I am very excited to cement my legacy as the 'Greatest Woman of All Time,'" she said after the fight was announced.
"I cannot wait to step into the PFL cage for the first time on June 10 and show the world that I never back down from a challenge. I have shown I am the best boxer in the world, and eventually I intend to do the same thing as a mixed martial artist."
The two-time Olympic Gold Medalist is a heavy favorite against Elkin, but she is not deterred. Elkin enters the fight with a record of three wins and six losses. It is her first time entering the ring since her MMA debut in 2018. Two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison defeated Elkin in the first round of their bout, but Elkin is hoping for a different result this time around.
"I know she is a great boxer, but this is MMA," Elkin said.
"I plan to show everyone that I am a well-rounded fighter who can compete wherever the fight takes me."
This is not the only big fight that Shields may take this year. WBO Middleweight Champion Savannah Marshall has called out the undefeated boxing star for some time now, but it now seems like the fight could actually happened. After Marshall's most recent victory, her promoter said yet again that they are ready for a showdown with the best women's boxer in the world.
"She’s going to get her a— kicking this year for sure. I’m going to knock Savannah Marshall's a— out. Sleep. Cold. She knows that. I’m a nine-time world champion, she just won a belt that became vacant because I haven’t fought in a year," Shields replied.
"She could have fought me for all the belts to prove what she’s saying but instead she waited for my belt to become vacant and then fought for the vacant title when she could have fought me, so no, she’s not ranked."
Shields is a woman on a mission and her MMA debut against Elkin is just the start.
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