Claressa Shields Gives Rival Savannah Marshall “Some Great Pointers” to Win Her MMA Debut

Published 04/28/2024, 8:25 AM EDT

Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall are trying to take it up a notch to test their fighting skills. Back in October 2022, Shields managed to defeat Marshall, however, it was before this fight that ‘T-Rex’ made her debut inside the cage in 2021. Interestingly, she won her debut MMA bout via KO against Brittney Elkin. Now, Marshall is following in the same footsteps.

Savannah Marshall has also signed a deal with the PFL and wants to try out her skills in MMA. She is set to compete at her first MMA event against Mirela Vargas on June 8th at 2024 PFL Europe 2 in Newcastle, England. Despite their rivalry, Shields congratulated her rival for such a huge step and even gave her crucial advice regarding this new sport.

A champion in the truest sense

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Claressa Shields talked about how boxing rivalries don’t usually become personal to her. Shields and Marshall have locked horns verbally online multiple times, but when it comes to one of the most important decisions of Marshall’s life, she doesn’t shy away from being the guiding light for her.

I’m not a person who wishes on anybody downfall! So the fact that we are both champions from boxing trying MMA I’m rooting for @Savmarshall1 to win her @PFLMMA fight! I gave her some great pointers after my last win! Hopefully she takes the advice!
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) April 27, 2024

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She made a post on X where she wished for Marshall’s victory in MMA. She wrote, “I’m not a person who wishes on anybody downfall! So the fact that we are both champions from boxing trying MMA I’m rooting for @Savmarshall1 to win her @PFLMMA fight! I gave her some great pointers after my last win! Hopefully she takes the advice!”

Moreover, even Marshall expressed her gratitude for Shields’ help and admitted that she didn’t take MMA seriously at first, but witnessing Shields in her last PFL fight, her perception completely changed about the sport. So, what did she have to say about this?

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Savannah Marshall had a change of heart

Marshall, recently signed by PFL, revealed that Shields offered her some crucial advice before she even started MMA training. “We’re not friends, but we acknowledge each other,” Marshall explained.

She initially dismissed Shields’ pointers, but after experiencing the realities of MMA training, Marshall had a change of heart. “When I looked back at what she said,” Marshall admitted, “I totally get it.” Shields’ advice served as a wake-up call for Marshall, shattering any illusions of an easy transition from boxing to MMA. “I underestimated it massively,” Marshall confessed. “I thought being an undisputed champion meant I could just walk in and dominate.“

This newfound respect for MMA goes hand-in-hand with Marshall’s decision to sign with PFL. The promotion’s flexibility allows her to continue boxing alongside her MMA pursuits, giving her the best of both worlds. What do you think about this transition? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Written by:

Chirag Radhyan is a senior boxing writer at EssentiallySports. Having authored close to 2K articles, he is a live-coverage specialist, contributing to the detailed reportage of live boxing events ranging from the Jermell Charlo vs Canelo Alvarez bout to Ryan Garcia vs Gervonta Davis. Moreover, his coverage of the off-court drama between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury received widespread appreciation from readers.

Edited by:

Snigdhaa Jaiswal

Claressa Shields Gives Rival Savannah Marshall “Some Great Pointers” to Win Her MMA Debut

A champion in the truest sense

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Savannah Marshall had a change of heart