According to a joint statement on Tuesday, Claressa Shields, the top-ranked female fighter worldwide, will be going back to MMA in 2024.
Shields, who is 28 years of ages, has actually signed a brand-new multiyear agreement to complete in MMA for the PFL. She had actually formerly made her launching in the promo in 2021, winning one fight and losing another.
“I am enjoyed be back in a company that puts the fighters initially, and I can’t wait to enter the PFL SmartCage once again,” Shields specified in a news release. “My supreme objective stays the very same – to end up being the very first professional athlete to hold champions in both boxing and MMA concurrently. I have actually enhanced a lot considering that my very first MMA bout and I aspire to show my abilities.”
The particular regards to the offer have actually not been divulged.
In her MMA launching, Shields protected a success by TKO, subduing her challenger on the ground. She then suffered a split choice loss in her 2nd look. After these 2 combined martial arts bouts, Shields went back to boxing and effectively safeguarded her middleweight titles 3 times within a period of 16 months. ESPN presently ranks Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) as the very best female fighter worldwide.
The PFL has actually been actively signing both conventional and nontraditional skill in the last few years, consisting of professional athletes such as previous UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou and expert boxer/social media influencer Jake Paul. PFL president Ray Sefo has actually likewise verified continuous discuss a possible merger with or acquisition of Bellator MMA. While the PFL mainly runs on a routine season and playoffs format, they are presently broadening to consist of pay-per-view occasions.
“We are happy to reveal that we have actually re-signed Claressa Shields, the most dominant ladies’s fighter worldwide, to a brand-new multi-year agreement,” stated PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Claressa and the PFL share the very same worths of focusing on fighters and satisfying benefit. We are happy to invite ‘The GWOAT’ back to the PFL and the world of MMA.”
