Claressa Shields proved that she’s now an MMA fighter as well as a boxer.
Claressa Shields overcame adversity, falling behind two rounds before finishing Brittney Elkin in the third round of her PFL debut. The boxing GWOAT showed that though she has much to learn, she is committed to becoming more than a striker in the world of MMA.
With her debut out of the way, what’s next for the boxing great turned MMA fighter? Shields has been vocal that she plans to compete in both boxing and MMA simultaneously. She has stated in multiple interviews that boxing is second nature to her, so continuing to compete in the sport and defending her titles will not add much training time to her schedule.
Claressa Shields showed heart but now needs to hone her skills
There was no question that Shields has the heart and drive of a true champion. Along with her superior striking, her composure and instinct were the keys to her victory. Her hand speed, striking intuition, and accuracy are insane, leaving little need for improvement.
Her grappling and wrestling, however, are still very much a work in progress. Shields never panicked on the ground and was able to transition in scrambles a few times during the fight, attributes that are impressive for a new fighter. But her current skill level will not get her to a championship or another promotion anytime soon.
Shields, ever-humble, recognizes the need to continue to learn. She’s got a great team at Jackson Wink MMA that will ensure she continues to evolve. But evolution takes time, and now that the first fight jitters are out of the way, Shields will likely spend the bulk of 2021 continuing to learn her new craft. Or at least she should.
Shields has not announced plans for any specific boxing match later this year, nor has the PFL announced any upcoming featured bouts for her. Hopefully, she will take at least the next four to five months to continue to train at Jackson Wink and make another appearance in the cage or the ring at the end of the year or early in 2022.