Tag: PFL Championship

Claressa Shields ‘not discouraged at all’ after first MMA loss; fires back at Jake Paul

Claressa Shields issued her first comments after losing for the first time at 2021 PFL Championship.

[autotag]Claressa Shields[/autotag] is maintaining a positive attitude in the wake of her first combat sports loss at 2021 PFL Championship.

Shields (1-1), a two-time Olympic gold medalist and undefeated boxing champion, fell short in her sophomore MMA effort Wednesday when she lost a split decision to Abigail Montes (3-0). It was a competitive, back-and-forth fight, but ultimately an inability to get up from her back in Round 3 cost Shields the fight.

After putting together a flawless boxing run and winning her MMA debut earlier this year, Shields experienced defeat for the first time as a professional fighter – in any sport. There were immediate questions about how she would handle a setback, but the early signs show her intent to bounce back stronger.

Shields took to social media Thursday and shared her perspective on the loss (via Twitter):

https://twitter.com/Claressashields/status/1453726265819598860

I loss a split decision, I didn’t get my ass whooped 🤣 I also improved. All I’m going to do is go back to the drawing board and keep learning. No one said this journey was going To be easy. MMA is new to me, I’m fighting on a world stage after only 9 months of training. #blessed

https://twitter.com/Claressashields/status/1453729868789604367

The difference in last night was I’ve never had to fight or even train in a cage so damn slippery. It’s all learning & just different from boxing. I did a lot of things right last night. I just loss a split decision

Shields, 26, did have one critic she was keen to respond to after the loss: Jake Paul. In the lead-up to her 2021 PFL Championship fight, Shields had a lot to say about the YouTuber-turned-boxer, claiming she would never share a card with Paul and that she could beat him with one hand in a boxing match.

Paul took the opportunity to respond to Shields after her fight, calling her a “loser” and tearing her down for having a bad attitude. Shields, of course, had something to say in return (via Twitter):

https://twitter.com/Claressashields/status/1453725633507315719

😂 this is funny. You come running when I lose a split decision in a while new world mma but never even once said “congrats on all you’ve done and aspire to do.” 2 things that remain Jake, I still fight better than you & you won’t accomplish 10% of what I have in boxing or life

https://twitter.com/Claressashields/status/1453726787217752068

Unlike Jake I fought a real mma fighter, he has yet to face a real boxer in boxing 😂 but Showtime will still back him though #Amerika

Shields is expected to return to the boxing ring before the end of the year now that PFL has concluded events until next season. She said she’s more motivated than ever to continue her MMA journey, though, and promised to level up next time she steps in the cage.

https://twitter.com/Claressashields/status/1453732013677035528

I’ll return to boxing in December and continue my undefeated journey there and MMA we ain’t done! I got something for y’all ass next year! It’s on now! Y’all done fired me up with this one! Watch my next mma fight I’ll be on a different level! Not discouraged at all!

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Claressa Shields confident she can handle careers in boxing, MMA: ‘Only the greats can do it’

Claressa Shields is confident she can handle careers in boxing and MMA, saying “only the greats can do it.”

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – For Claressa Shields, one thing is clear: She’s not going to leave boxing for MMA or vice versa.

Shields, the boxing champion who recently turned professional in MMA, has no intention to focus on one sport and plans to run careers in both simultaneously. A two-time boxing Olympic gold medalist, Shields has her second MMA fight booked when she takes on Abigail Montes at the 2021 PFL Championship event on Oct. 27. And shortly after her second go in MMA, Shields wants to get a boxing bout going for December.

Both sports are incredibly challenging, and some may think managing careers in both is an even harder task. Shields disagrees, and her answer as to why she’s doing this is simple.

“Because I’m the greatest, that’s why,” Shields told MMA junkie.

“Boxing is never going to be hard for me. Let’s just put it out. I’ve been boxing for 15 years. I’m a two-time Olympic gold medalist. Not a two-time Olympian, a two-time Olympic gold medalist. I fought against every kind of style you can fight against, and I’ve beaten them all. I’m a 12-time champion in boxing, three-time division, two-time undisputed. It goes on and on. All I need is four weeks to get ready for boxing.

“MMA, on the other hand, I would need more time to get ready. So the main thing is just to focus one fight at a time. That’s it. One fight at a time and just kind of go from there. I don’t think it’s going to be hard, and only the greats can do it.”

Shields isn’t trying to be arrogant. She’s out to become the greatest female fighter of all time, and she believes being a champion in both MMA and boxing will get her there.

“It was a scary transition (to MMA) and risky transition, but I did it because I wanted to prove to myself that I am the greatest of all time,” Shields explained. “I can do boxing, I can do great in MMA as long as I train and fight the fighters who are at my caliber level.

“But once it gets to the PFL league, I want to prove that I can be the PFL champion, so I’m starting from scratch. … I’m just going to keep training, keep my head down and don’t let all the lights go to my head.”

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Claressa Shields confident she can handle careers in boxing, MMA: ‘Only the greats can do it’

Claressa Shields is confident she can handle careers in boxing and MMA, saying “only the greats can do it.”

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on MMAJunkie.com.

***

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – For Claressa Shields, one thing is clear: She’s not going to leave boxing for MMA or vice versa.

Shields, the boxing champion who recently turned professional in MMA, has no intention to focus on one sport and plans to run careers in both simultaneously. A two-time boxing Olympic gold medalist, Shields has her second MMA fight booked when she takes on Abigail Montes at the 2021 PFL Championship event on Oct. 27. And shortly after her second go in MMA, Shields wants to get a boxing bout going for December.

Both sports are incredibly challenging, and some may think managing careers in both is an even harder task. Shields disagrees, and her answer as to why she’s doing this is simple.

“Because I’m the greatest, that’s why,” Shields told MMA junkie.

“Boxing is never going to be hard for me. Let’s just put it out. I’ve been boxing for 15 years. I’m a two-time Olympic gold medalist. Not a two-time Olympian, a two-time Olympic gold medalist. I fought against every kind of style you can fight against, and I’ve beaten them all. I’m a 12-time champion in boxing, three-time division, two-time undisputed. It goes on and on. All I need is four weeks to get ready for boxing.

“MMA, on the other hand, I would need more time to get ready. So the main thing is just to focus one fight at a time. That’s it. One fight at a time and just kind of go from there. I don’t think it’s going to be hard, and only the greats can do it.”

Shields isn’t trying to be arrogant. She’s out to become the greatest female fighter of all time, and she believes being a champion in both MMA and boxing will get her there.

“It was a scary transition (to MMA) and risky transition, but I did it because I wanted to prove to myself that I am the greatest of all time,” Shields explained. “I can do boxing, I can do great in MMA as long as I train and fight the fighters who are at my caliber level.

“But once it gets to the PFL league, I want to prove that I can be the PFL champion, so I’m starting from scratch. … I’m just going to keep training, keep my head down and don’t let all the lights go to my head.”

[lawrence-related id=21001,20998,20979,20976]

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