Shields Wins Her MMA Debut – Video Highlights

Las Vegas, NV (June eleventh, 2021)– Boxing phenom Claressa Shields made her long-awaited MMA debut Thursday evening in the primary occasion of PFL 4, 2021.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist. Three-division champion — at the moment. Self-proclaimed GWOAT (Biggest Girl of All Time). Shields entered the cage with all this hype and extra, making her PFL debut probably the most intriguing fights of the yr.

Dealing with Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt Brittney Elkin, Shields discovered herself in a traditional “striker vs. grappler” showdown — and one self-discipline stole the present … earlier than the opposite stole it again.

Right here’s what went down.

Spherical 1 

No glove contact right here. Shields stalks ahead, and Elkin throws a wide range of kicks to maintain her opponent at bay. Shields bites on every part, cautious of the hazard offered by Elkin legs. Feeling extra snug, Shields opens up along with her fingers, and Elkin instantly counters with a takedown, placing Shields on her again in opposition to the cage.

This isn’t what Shields wished early, however she’s again to her ft after a wall-walk. Elkin maintains the clinch although, and after a short scramble that noticed Shields on prime for a second, Elkin regains dominant place and goes to work on prime of Shields.

Regardless of her work at Jackson Wink MMA, Shields struggles right here, as Elkin methodically works to mount. Whereas the positional advances matter, Shields has protected herself effectively and averted any severe ground-and-pound or submission makes an attempt. Elkin seemed for an armbar briefly, however then went to work with ground-and-pound.

The spherical ends with Elkin in full mount. Whereas Shields didn’t panic, demonstrating spectacular composure, the spherical goes to Elkin simply.

Spherical 2

Elkin opens Spherical 2 with the identical sport plan: Maintain Shields away with kicks. Shields eats them and fires away with fast fingers, forcing Elkin to shoot for a takedown. Shields sprawls superbly however will get overzealous from there, pouncing with punches and giving Elkin the possibility to reverse place, which she capitalizes on instantly.

She goes proper again to work from full mount, and Shields is left on her again trying to bump her off. With two minutes gone within the spherical, Elkin threatens an arm triangle however lets it go with out expending an excessive amount of vitality.

Shields simply has no solutions from her again, as anticipated, and Elkin maintains the dominant place. To Shields’ credit score, she’s as soon as once more composed and relaxed on this unfavorable spot, exhibiting spectacular psychological fortitude. Elkin latches onto an arm and searches for the armbar, however Shields scrambles and escapes, ending the spherical on prime raining down punches.

Shields doubtless shouldn’t be profitable the combat, however she’s undoubtedly spectacular, as she’s had each alternative to surrender an arm or her neck. She didn’t take it although, and she or he as a substitute lives to combat one other spherical.

Spherical 3

Shields is on hearth early. She appears to be like contemporary, fast, and motivated, firing away with lightning-quick fingers and placing Elkin on the defensive. Elkin turtles, and Shields continues to blast away with piston-like fists to the dome, forcing the referee to take a better have a look at the motion.

Elkin retains shifting and squirming, however Shields is totally relentless, and the referee has seen sufficient.

There it’s. Shields, after spending nearly 10 full minutes on her again, mounted by a Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt in Elkin, survives and earns the end in Spherical 3.

“I really feel like I’m dreaming. That is loopy,” Shields instructed PFL commentator Sean O’Connell after the win.

What a debut. What’s subsequent for her from right here?

Official Consequence: Claressa Shields def. Brittney Elkin by way of TKO, Spherical 3 (1:44)