Editor’s note: This article was originally posted on MMAJunkie.com.
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Boxing champion Claressa Shields is making the jump to MMA.
Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in boxing who has put together a 10-0 record in her professional career after going 77-1 as an amateur, has signed a deal with PFL that will see her transition sports.
MMA Junkie confirmed Shields’ signing to PFL with two people with knowledge of the situation, who requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Shields, 25, has had her name mentioned in MMA circles infrequently over the years. There’s been discussion of fights with UFC champ Amanda Nunes or Bellator champ Cris Cyborg, but the talk primarily involved them crossing over into the boxing ring.
The idea of competing in MMA has never been dismissed entirely by Shields, though. In July 2019, she posted on social media that she “really” would consider fighting for the UFC. In February, video surfaced of Shields training kicks for the first time.
Shields, who is the undisputed women’s middleweight champion and is one of only seven boxers in history – male or female – to hold WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO world championship belts at the same time, hasn’t fought since a unanimous decision win over Ivana Habazin in January.
Shields weighed in at 153.4 pounds for the fight with Habazin. PFL employs a women’s lightweight division at 155 pounds. Fellow two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison won the 2019 season championship.
According to sources, Shields will take one-off fights at lightweight to begin her MMA career with PFL, similar to Harrison.
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