Claressa Shields wins her MMA debut—coming back from the brink to do it

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ—Claressa Shields was a curiosity once more. The 2-time Olympic gold medalist stepped by means of a time capsule and walked again to a flashier, light-show model of Flint, Michigan, once more Thursday evening, toiling once more within the musty boys golf equipment the one woman on the lookout for acceptance.

Her thoughts raced again additional, to the 6-year-old sitting on her grandmother’s parlor ground, the little woman that was at all times being picked on, for the garments she wore, for her hair, for her quiet demeanor, for the best way she seemed.

She was referred to as ugly once more.

She was being bullied once more.

She was being instructed she will’t—once more.

Advised that sufficient and a defiant, impudent rage builds over time.

Shields (11-0, 2 knockouts) was on the lookout for acceptance once more. One of many world’s greatest feminine boxers made the daring transfer to enterprise into one other unknown world for her, that of blended martial arts, making her debut on the Skilled Fighters League (PFL) circuit contained in the bubble of the Ocean On line casino Resort in Atlantic Metropolis, New Jersey.

The 26-year-old from Flint was combating somebody she was alleged to handily beat, 35-year-old Brittney Elkin, who had not fought in two years and the final time she was near a hoop was as a bartender on the 2300 Area in Philadelphia.

It was not straightforward.

It wasn’t fairly both, however Shields persevered—as she’s completed her entire life—after dropping the primary two rounds to safe a stoppage victory at 1:44 of the third spherical.

Inside the first minute, Shields tried just a few wild “strikes,” earlier than Elkin ultimately put Shields down. Shields is tremendously sturdy, and bought again on her ft, earlier than Elkin despatched her down once more.

Shields then spent the subsequent minute on her again, taking photographs to her head and abdomen. It appeared evident Shields didn’t know what to do or the right way to get out of the scenario.

The sport plan was working precisely the best way Elkin felt it could—get Shields off her ft and place her in uncomfortable conditions. Elkin had management of the remainder of the primary spherical, with Shields on her again.

The second spherical began with Shields on her ft, then Elkin pulled a reverse and bought Shields down once more, permitting Elkin to dictate the route the place they have been shifting on the bottom. Once more, for main parts of the spherical, Elkin was on high of Shields, controlling the scenario—and successful the spherical.

With lower than a minute within the second, Shields was on her again taking rights to the top. Shields turned the tide within the last 10 seconds, inserting Elkin in a defensive place and raining photographs down on Elkin.

Inside the first 18 seconds, Elkin took down Shields once more. But it surely was Shields who had Elkin tied up, and it was Elkin taking punishment. With Elkin balled up and referee Gasper Oliver trying in intently, the combat was waved over, giving Shields the stoppage victory.

“That is loopy,” stated Shields, The Ring’s middleweight champion. “I stored telling myself that is going to be exhausting. I again to my nook, and I used to be like, ‘Rattling, I misplaced a spherical.’ I went again to my nook after the second spherical, and I used to be like, ‘I misplaced the second spherical.’ She had me on the bottom, however she by no means harm me.

“I misplaced two rounds, however I instructed myself I wasn’t utilizing the third spherical; I used to be getting taken down. I skilled my butt off. I attempted and Brittney was so skilled, and I wasn’t going to let her ground-and-pound. I used to be by no means on my again in a boxing match in my life. I attempted exhausting to not lose, and I had a never-quit perspective. I instructed myself, ‘By no means surrender.’”

However Shields wants severe work if she’s going to advance within the MMA world.

Sarcastically, the indominable “Cassius” Clay Collard (9-4-3, 4 KOs) was on the undercard of the Shields’ MMA debut. Collard was combating Joilton Lutterbach (0-1) to stay in rivalry for a PFL playoff berth as a light-weight (155 kilos).

If you happen to recall, Collard began 2021 a exceptional 5-0, handing three fighters their first loss, earlier than settling again to lose his final two boxing matches. He’s been successful within the PFL world, and clawed out of some hassle within the first spherical in opposition to Lutterbach, who had Collard in a submission maintain. Collard someway broke free, and resorted again to boxing within the second and third rounds.

Collard wound up successful, going to 2-0 within the PFL.

It was a first-class manufacturing, with star energy. NFL Corridor of Famer Ray Lewis was octagon facet as a commentator. The help workers and administration have been skilled and accommodating, a lesson many in boxing can be taught from. The PFL additionally runs some extent system, and standings for every weight class, primarily based on factors received by victories and fights are received.

There have been just a few cringe-worthy components, like the group noise pumped in from a ceiling speaker that blurted out fake sound seemingly on a loop. The opposite winceable offense have been the mullets a number of the fighters have been carrying (thought they have been useless within the Nineteen Nineties).

Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America. He might be adopted on twitter @JSantoliquito.