Claressa Shields Refuses to ‘Bow Down’ to Brittney Elkin

Published 06/06/2021, 10:43 AM EDT

Boxing champion Claressa Shields spoke out in the days leading up to her MMA debut that will go down on June 10. Shields will face Brittney Elkin who comes in with a 3-6 losing record as a professional. However, Elkin has faced a tough gauntlet of opponents as she also welcomes Kayla Harrison to the PFL in June 2018.

The former Olympian in Shields has a clear objective once she officially kick starts her MMA journey- to be the best. She believes she’s made the necessary adjustments to incorporate her world-class boxing with MMA skills. With just a few days out from her fight, it’s impossible to say that Claressa Shields isn’t fired up.

“The PFL fans can expect me to go out there and be just as great as I am at boxing and have that same confidence,” Shields said. “I’m a fighter at heart, I’m not gonna just go in there and bow down to Brittney. I’m a dog, I go in there and scrap. I haven’t lost a fight since I was 17 years old. I’m 26.” [h/t MMA Mania.com]

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The aforementioned showcase bout takes place in Atlantic City at the Ocean Casino Resort for three rounds. It’s crucial she begins her MMA career on the right foot and doesn’t suffer any unwanted missteps. There are a lot of lucrative opportunities lying ahead so long as she racks up impressive wins in the cage.

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Claressa Shields: Making her mark

When making the switch from boxing to MMA, it’s important to make sure the adjustments are thorough and definite. Claressa Shields has definitely done that by making her way down to Albuquerque, New Mexico to train at Jackson Wink. The gym is home to arguably one of the best fighters of all time in Jon Jones.

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Additionally, there are plenty of elite former champs like Holly Holm and Carlos Condit who bring a lot to the table. Shields is well equipped to deal with any unforeseen adversity that may come her way given the training backing her. If everything plays out as she expects, the MMA world may have a crossover star on its hand.

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Darryl Pinto is a senior MMA writer at EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his graduate degree in Mass Media (with a specialization in Journalism) out of Xavier’s College and has a year's experience in his current role. Darryl specializes in predictions, reporting, and covering UFC events live.

Claressa Shields Refuses to ‘Bow Down’ to Brittney Elkin

Claressa Shields: Making her mark

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