Widely regarded as one of the most dominant figures in women’s boxing, Claressa has formally rang the bell on her stint in mixed martial arts after three appearances with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). The 30-year-old athlete confirmed her decision during an interview, stating that although the experience was worthwhile, she will no longer pursue MMA due to the pressure on her training schedule and the toll it has taken on her body.
Shields, who boasts an undefeated record in professional boxing and has held undisputed titles across five weight classes, entered MMA in 2021 with significant attention. Her debut resulted in a technical knockout victory over Brittney Elkin, followed by a narrow split-decision loss to Abigail Montes. After taking a break from the cage for over two years, she returned to win a tightly contested bout against Kelsey De Santis by decision in early 2024.
And although her matches were a sure bet for her MMA fans, her impressive career is far from over. It will just take a different name but the same profession, and that’s fighting until the other side drops. Claressa’s fans can still cheer and bet on her using anonymous sportsbooks, where the only thing that’s changing is her sport, but not her name, and Matt Bastok wrote about recommended places to keep betting on her career.
Despite expressing admiration for the discipline required in MMA, Shields said the intense commitments needed to develop high-level grappling and defensive techniques. She noted that effective preparation demands a training window of six to eight months to build competency in takedown defense alone. During her MMA tenure, Shields sustained two arm fractures, which further influenced her decision to step away from the sport and to reach Serena Williams’ heights, cementing her decision.
Shields acknowledged that her family had long been skeptical of her participation in MMA, preferring to concentrate solely on her achievements within boxing. She insisted that her foray into mixed martial arts was motivated by a personal desire to prove her versatility as a fighter. She believes that the goal is now done, citing the two victories in the cage as evidence of her adaptability and competitiveness.
Her exit from MMA comes when her boxing career continues to ascend. The Michigan native added the undisputed heavyweight crown to her extensive list of titles, reinforcing her position as one of the most decorated female boxers in history. With an unblemished record of 16 wins and no losses and an Olympic gold medal to her name, Shields’ focus now returns entirely to defending her titles and expanding her legacy within the ring.
With MMA no longer in the picture, Shields appears intent on maximizing her influence and success in boxing, where she continues to break barriers and set records. Her upcoming defense of the heavyweight title, in Detroit against New Zealand’s Lani Daniels scheduled for July 26, will mark her first bout since making the official decision to step away from mixed martial arts.
The PFL, which had hinted at possible future matchups involving Shields, particularly a crossover bout with fellow boxer-turned-MMA-fighter Savannah Marshall, may need to reconsider those plans. While there was speculation about rekindling the Shields-Marshall rivalry in a different combat format, Shields’ exit from MMA closed that chapter for the foreseeable future.