The fabled crossovers between MMA and boxing are no longer a far-fetched wet dream. In recent memory, athletes from either side of the line have turned those clashes into a reality. And the latest buzz on that bandwagon is regarding a bout between Cris Cyborg and Claressa Shields. “😂@Claressashields, the 5th Ninja Turtle off her back… Dumbatelo I could beat her in MMA without throwing a single punch. Imagine investing your life into boxing and being afraid to fight a girl who can’t box her way out of a paper bag because you can’t swim and I’m a shark 🦈.”

That was the Brazilian’s sharp jab at Shields in their ongoing war of words. While this feud has been brewing for some time, Shields has finally fired back with a response that has reignited interest in a potential mega-showdown between the two combat sports icons. Let’s see what unfolded between the two legends!

Claressa Shields breaks her silence

Despite being training partners, the duo’s relationship turned sour over the years. Why? Because, in 2024, Cyborg escalated things by challenging Shields to a fight in either boxing or MMA. However, Shields thought Cyborg was all talk and not serious about it. Shields recently addressed the issue on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. “She wants the clout,” she declared, dismissing Cyborg’s challenge as an attention-seeking move.

“That’s what Cris Cyborg wants. Ain’t nobody paying attention to Cris Cyborg no more! She’s old, and I’m new. I’m popping right now. She’s a hater.” Shields then doubled down, mentioning a sparring session where she claimed she easily dominated Cyborg. On the other hand, Cyborg didn’t let Shields’ comments slide. She has been persistent in her callouts, challenging T Rex to meet her in the Octagon. The rivalry reached a boiling point recently when Shields made a fiery statement that has gone viral.

Not very long ago, Claressa Shields took to X to add fuel to the fire with a biting post that read: “Oh, and Cris Cyborg, we all know you can’t box your way out of a paper bag.” This post quickly gained traction, reigniting the debate between fans of both fighters.

Claressa Shields, who went back to MMA in February last year, made a surprising switch to the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Having won against Vanessa Lepage Joanisse through knockout for the WBC World Heavy, WBF World Heavy, and WBO World Light Heavy (vacant) titles, the five weight classes champion will start this year defending her title. So who is she fighting?

The 29-year-old is all set to face Daniella Perkins on February 2, 2025, at Dort Financial Center in Flint for the undisputed heavyweight championship including IBF World Heavyweight (vacant), WBA World Heavyweight (vacant), WBC World Heavyweight, and WBO World Heavyweight Championship (vacant). If Shields wins, she could achieve a status comparable to that of Oleksandr Usyk, who ended a 25-year drought among men.

Cyborg, on the other hand, a 38-year-old MMA veteran reminded Shields that they are both under the same MMA promotion contract implying that a bout could be easily arranged. However, Shields has yet to sign an official agreement. Cyborg then took to social media herself, posting: “Reminder @Claressashields is fighting a woman with 5 professional fights in a weight class with only 18 active fighters in the entire world rather than making the big fights the fans are asking for.” However, that is not the end as there’s more tea to serve hot on the plate.

Where will it all go down? Boxing ring or the Octagon?

Given their respective backgrounds, it’s evident that Claressa Shields has bigger advantages in the boxing world. And though Shields has little to no love for Cyborg at this point, she acknowledges the fact that facing her in MMA would not be to her advantage. “No, I’m not going to fight Cris Cyborg in MMA,” Shields said. Why? Because Cyborg has too much experience inside the cage for Shields to tackle. Moreover, “I just don’t have the time to learn it,” the GWOT added.

She emphasizes the fairness of boxing, where both fighters use only their left and right hands, unlike MMA. “She’s got her left, her right, her elbows, her knees, her kicks, the ground game….” Despite this, Shields confidently claims she could defeat Cyborg in a street fight. “But the thing is, lord knows, I would f*ck Cris Cyborg up in a street fight,” she quipped.

Looking ahead, Shields is open to boxing Cyborg after her next fight, scheduled for February 2 in Flint, Michigan. She challenged Cyborg to step into the ring, saying, “Come and fight me. It’s not hard to make a fight with me. She can get her ass kicked Feb. 3, the next day.” The stakes are high, and Shields knows that success against Perkins could open new doors, potentially even increasing pressure for her to face the Brazilian juggernaut.

However, the Cyborg-Shields saga continues to loom over this fight. While the two athletes exchange sharp words and fiery social media posts, the world waits to see if this war of words will translate into action in the ring—or the Octagon. Only time will tell. So what’s your thought on it? If this fight happens, who do you think will come out on top: the boxing queen or the MMA veteran?