It’s been some time since fans witnessed a virtual war of words between Claressa Shields and Cris Cyborg. Representing the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA), these two champions have captivated audiences for years. Now, as their professional paths intersect, their public exchanges have become the talk of the combat sports world. Most recently, Cris Cyborg took a jab at Shields following the announcement of her next fight.

In June, Claressa Shields marked her heavyweight debut with a victory over Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse. Earlier in February, after a three-year hiatus, she returned to MMA and defeated Kelsey DeSantis at the ‘PFL vs. Bellator’ event in Saudi Arabia. Cris Cyborg moved to Bellator after her last UFC bout in 2019. With a win over Larissa Pacheco, she secured the PFL featherweight championship two months ago. Cyborg dabbled in boxing as well, claiming two victories via early stoppages this year.

Cris Cyborg Jabs Outside the Ring

Fight Hub TV’s Marcos Villegas shared an update. “Claressa Shields vs. Danielle Perkins will happen in Feb for her WBC heavyweight title,” his tweet read. It didn’t take much time before the report caught Cris Cyborg’s sharp eyes.

Mocking Claressa Shields, she said, “😂😂😂😂 @Claressashields out here fighting 42-year-old women with 5 professional fights, hiding in a division with only 17 active fighters IN THE WORLD.” Brooklyn-born Danielle Perkins entered professional boxing four years ago. She has only participated in four fights, with her last bout against Monika Harrison taking place in 2021.

Nearly a year after she defended her undisputed middleweight title from Maricela Cornejo, Shields returned for a hometown fixture. At Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, she faced the Canadian Lepage-Joanisse. The bout ended much earlier than expected.

As both Shields and Cyborg now fight under the PFL banner, speculation about a potential clash between them continues to grow. While an MMA bout seems likely, a showdown in the boxing ring cannot be ruled out. The intrigue surrounding their rivalry is heightened by their history—Shields revealed in an interview with Ariel Helwani that they had sparred in the past.

Trading Barbs and Challenges: Claressa Shields and Cris Cyborg

Soon after she defeated DeSantis, during an interview, Claressa Shields revealed, “I don’t give a damn about Chris Cyborg, and she knows that. Chris Cyborg can’t beat me in a fight; she can’t beat me in boxing. Why is she worried about my weight class and what I fought at? I’m not the only catchweight fight that’s on the card.” Shields suggested Cyborg was upset because her absence in Saudi Arabia allowed the Shields-DeSantis bout to make history as the first women’s MMA fight in the country.

Cris Cyborg later called out Claressa Shields for a fight. “I’m 10 years older and 30 pounds lighter, but I will beat the brakes off the “GWOAT”: Goofiest Woman Of All Time in a real fight. My last fight was 145 lbs. @Claressashields last fight was 175 lbs. I will fight her inside the @PFLMMA cage at an open weight. Just sign the contract.”

Cyborg added that in an MMA fight, she would easily dominate Shields. However, if the bout were to take place in the boxing ring, Cyborg demanded that Shields drop down to 147 pounds. If Shields couldn’t make the weight, Cyborg suggested they fight at open weight under MMA rules.

As the rivalry heats up, fans eagerly anticipate whether the clash will happen inside the MMA cage or the boxing ring.

What about you? Would you prefer to see Shields vs. Cyborg in an MMA bout or a boxing match?