February 26th 2024.
In a groundbreaking moment, undefeated boxing champion Claressa Shields has made a fearless transition into the MMA world. Her latest victory, which took place in Saudi Arabia, solidified her as a force to be reckoned with in both the boxing and MMA communities.
According to CNN, Shields' win against Kelsey De Santis on Feb. 24 marked the first time a professional MMA bout has been held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This impressive achievement adds to her already impressive 14-0 boxing record and brings her MMA record to 2-1 after her previous loss against Abigail Montes in October 2021.
Reflecting on her challenging win, Shields shared, "I had such a hard camp. It's not easy what I'm trying to do, and I've been so respectful of the sport. I put a lot of hard work in, and I'm going to go back to the gym and work even harder."
The match was a nail-biter, with Shields narrowly escaping an armbar submission attempt by De Santis in the first round. However, with her skill and determination, she managed to regain her composure and ultimately secure the victory. "I almost got my arm snapped in the freakin' armbar. I had to fight out of that," Shields revealed.
Leading up to the bout, Shields put in countless hours of hard work and dedication, especially since it was her first MMA fight in over two years. She admitted, "There were days in camp where I was literally in tears. I was not considering going back to the gym because it was so hard, but I forced myself to go back, and that's how I got the win tonight."
Shields' remarkable MMA debut comes at a time when female MMA fighters are on the rise in the traditionally conservative kingdom. In fact, in January, Hattan Alsaif made history as the first Saudi woman to join an international MMA promotion.
As for Shields, the Flint, Michigan native remains confident and determined, ready to take on any challenge that comes her way. There are even talks of her potentially facing Britain's Savannah Marshall in an MMA bout, after already defeating her in a world middleweight title boxing match in London in October 2022.
"Savannah needs to understand - and the sooner she understands, the better - you can't beat me in nothing," Shields boldly declared to Sky Sports. "The sooner she understands that, the better we'll all be. Just give it up."
In a world where traditional gender roles and expectations can often limit opportunities for women, Shields continues to break barriers and prove her strength and resilience in both the boxing and MMA arenas. Her unwavering determination and relentless work ethic serve as an inspiration to all, and we can't wait to see what she'll achieve next.
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