The world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound women’s bras, Clarissa Shields, will enter her professional mixed martial arts in 2021.
Shields, the undisputed world champions of the two divisions in boxing, have signed a special, multi-year deal with MMA Promotion PFL. The 25-year-old will not participate in the PFL’s traditional “season format” in 2021, but intends to fight at least twice in 2022, keeping an eye on the season berth. It will continue in 2021.
“I wanted to test myself,” Shields told M.S.A. Told ESPN about his transition to. “I want to see if I can become a world champion in boxing and a world champion in MMA. This is something I want to test myself. I’m not saying boxing is easy, but I’ve been on top of the world. About 14 Years now. “
Flint, a native of Michigan, won the U.S. Shields at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. So the gold medalists were boxers. She has haunted the idea of transitioning to MMA for more than a year and at one point, challenged UFC two-time champion Amanda Nunes in a boxing match, a 2-fight match consisting of an MMA match.
To this point, Shields says he has attended “a few” Jiu-Jitsu classes, and the U.S. Has done little with Olympic wrestler Adeline Gray.
“I can say, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be,” Shields said on the MMA’s controversial aspect. “I thought I would hate her completely. I thought as soon as she grabbed my leg I would get frustrated and try to cut her or something, but that didn’t happen.”
The PFLA has postponed its entire 2020 season due to the Covid-19 epidemic, but plans to resume its 2021 season in April in Las Vegas. The promotion offers a 5 155 lightweight division for women and is led by 2019 winner Kaila Harrison. Harris won the U.S. Open in Judo. He also won Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016. Shields told ESPN that he and Harrison are close friends, but that he would have no trouble fighting each other if he ever realized in the future. Harrison is 8-0 in the MMA.
“I was telling MMA fans, I’m not just a speaker,” Shields said. “I know they use all these Clout Chasers right there. I’m this, the real deal. I can do whatever I say, I put my best foot forward and I do it. I lost mine. No. I have been fighting since I was 17, and I am 25. My 77mat wins were as amateurs, one lost .I am 10-0 as a pro.
“I’m not coming to MMA to lose. The next time they see me in the cage, I work so hard muscles to win.
Information from ESPN’s Brett Okamoto and Mike Rothstein contributed to this report.
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