Did Claressa Shields Retire From MMA?

The ‘GWOAT’ is back in business again and this time she wants to conquer a new weight division. The undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields is now moving up to light-heavyweight and also challenging the world heavyweight champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse on July 27 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The win would make her a five-division world champion. The two-division undisputed champion last stepped into the ring against Maricela Cornejo in June last year and successfully defended her undisputed title. While being in full control of her boxing career, Shields also tried her luck in MMA and signed a new “seven-figure deal” with PFL last year.

Now that she will return to the squared circle after thirteen months, and possibly aim for undisputed status for a third time, does that mean she will be sacrificing her MMA career? Well, the two-time Olympic gold medalist has given us enough hints this year to suggest that won’t be the case. So, what are Shields’ plans in MMA?

The ‘GWOAT’ can’t be held back!

Even after achieving so much glory and accolades in boxing, she has huge ambitions. Her stint in MMA continues while simultaneously adding names to her spotless boxing record. She renewed her deal with the PFL last year, continuing her association with the organization that started in 2021. In a statement, PFL CEO Peter Murray stated, “It is a privilege to announce the PFL has re-signed the most dominant women’s boxer in the world, Claressa Shields, to a new multi-year agreement. Claressa and the PFL share a fighter-first, merit-based value system and take on the world attitude. We are proud to welcome ‘The GWOAT’ back to the PFL and the sport of MMA.”

Staying true to her commitment, Shields has already fought in the SmartCage this year against Kelsey De Santis. The fight was one for the record books as the two fighters made history for being part of the first professional MMA bout in Saudi Arabia featuring two women.

Originally, she signed a three-year deal with PFL in November 2020 to compete in non-tournament mixed martial arts bouts as a lightweight. Later, the contract was renewed to another multiyear deal.

In an interview with Ariel Helwani in February, Shields expressed her desire to become the PFL world champion and disproved the widely held notion in combat sports that boxers can’t compete in elite-level MMA competitions.

“I’m the GWOAT in boxing, and now I want to be the GWOAT in MMA. So, I feel like to be the GWOAT in MMA — if I become PFL world champion, nobody should say nothing else to me, about, ‘Boxers can’t do MMA, and MMA fighters can’t transition’,” Shields remarked.

But, how does her MMA record look so far?

You live and you learn!

Shield’s first professional fight in MMA was against Brittney Elkin at PFL 4 in 2021. Her debut in PFL was a successful endeavor as she finished her opponent in the third round by unleashing a vicious ground-and-pound attack. With the morale boosted by her maiden win, Shields entered the SmartCage again in the same year against Abigail Montes. Unfortunately, Shields lost the lightweight bout via split decision at PFL 10 in October 2021.

Following the defeat, she put her MMA career on hold and continued to pursue her goals in the sport that made her the ‘GWOAT’. The Flint Michigan native went on to add further accolades to her boxing career, but many wondered whether she had plans to retire from MMA after her loss.

In an interview with MMA Hour in 2023, she put the rumors to rest and made it clear that she plans to continue training in MMA and compete in more fights. She called her loss against Montes a learning experience.

Lo and behold, she bagged another deal with the PFL and returned to the Smartcage this year in February. She went up against Kelsey De Santis and bagged a unanimous decision victory. As things stand, her MMA record stands at a respectable 2-1.

Will Claressa Shields be able to become a world champion in PFL in the future? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.