Claressa Shields Scores The Knockout Win In MMA Debut, Stops Brittney Elkin In The Third

By: Hans Themistode

Boxing, a minimum of to a sure extent, had turn out to be each too simple and never rewarding sufficient. So after dominating as an novice and professional, Claressa Shields figured that she may do the identical in an MMA (Blended Martial Arts) octagon, she was proper.

For months on finish, Shields educated tirelessly for her MMA debut within the Skilled Fighters League (PFL), a corporation by which she signed a multi-fight contract to compete underneath. In her first official combat underneath blended martial arts guidelines, Shields took dwelling a third-round stoppage victory over Brittney Elkin.

Though on paper, Shields walked into their showdown as the favourite, Elkin’s expertise was tough to beat.

Shields marched her solution to the octagon in Atlantic Metropolis, New Jersey, kicked her footwear and stepped into the cage. Early on, she proved that her world-class hanging means may simply translate as she tagged her opponent on a number of events. However, as anticipated, Elkins managed to get their contest to the bottom and that’s the place issues obtained sophisticated for Shields.

Because the a number of division boxing champion had grown accustomed to trampling over the competitors within the ring, she admits that she needed to chunk down on her mouth guard and dig deep towards Elkin’s.

“Each time I sat down within the nook, I used to be like ‘Rattling, I misplaced one other spherical,’” mentioned Shields after her victory. “I got here out for the second spherical, misplaced the second spherical. Then got here the third spherical, my coach mentioned to not get taken down. She obtained me on the bottom however she by no means harm me. None of her punches harm me. None of her armbars—nothing.

“I by no means doubted myself in a boxing match in my life. MMA is one thing like, it’s potential I can lose this primary combat. I don’t need to lose however all I may do was simply attempt to not lose. I simply had a by no means give up perspective each spherical.”

Quitting has by no means been part of Shields vocabulary however earlier than tonight, shedding rounds wasn’t both. After going 64-1 as an novice with two Olympic Gold medals and 11-0 as a professional with world titles in three separate weight lessons, together with two undisputed title reigns, Shields hardly ever misplaced a spherical. But, as famous by Shields, her dominance within the ring didn’t precisely translate to the octagon.

Refusing to just accept defeat, nevertheless, Shields obtained precisely what she was in search of within the closing spherical. After Elkin’s did not safe a takedown, Shields took full benefit, buzzing her opponent as she tried to get the combat on the bottom. With valuable time ticking off the clock, Shields went for the stoppage. Because the referee seemed on, he tried to present Elkin’s the good thing about the doubt. With that mentioned, after Shields scored shot after unanswered shot, he was pressured to name off their contest.

Though there was no title on the road, Shields celebrated as if she had simply gained one. Now, as Shields is formally a two-sport athlete, she replayed the ultimate moments within the octagon that allowed her to select up her first MMA win.

“I simply seen that she didn’t like getting hit. She was uncovered. Coach saved saying, ‘Let her out.’ I used to be like, ‘I’m not letting her up.’ She turned towards me. I pushed myself towards her once more, and it was over.”