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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 21: Gold medalist Claressa Maria Shields of the United States poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Boxing Middle (69-75kg) on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro – Pavilion 6 on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 21: Gold medalist Claressa Maria Shields of the United States poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Boxing Middle (69-75kg) on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro – Pavilion 6 on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Cris Cyborg has found a new lease of life at Bellator MMA. After signing with the promotion, Cyborg wasted no time in adding another belt to her ever-growing list of accomplishments in the sport.
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The Brazilian fighter is not only an MMA pioneer but an inspiration to women around the world who have taken up the sport. She is truly one of the greatest combat athletes of all time.
Claressa Shields is someone who aims to have the kind of impact and success Cyborg has had inside the octagon as she prepares for her MMA debut, which will take place later this year.
However, Shields has no interest in sitting out and waiting for a bout. She wasted no time in accepting a fight against Marie-Eve Dicaire, whom she will be facing next month.
Read: Dan Hooker dispels rumours of a Conor McGregor matchup
Cris Cyborg shares her admiration for Claressa Shields ahead of her upcoming fight
In a recent interview, James Lynch asked Cyborg what she made of Claressa’s upcoming fight against Marie-Eve Dicaire.
She said, “You know, this fight is going to be amazing. I have supported her (Shields) doing MMA….. You know if Claressa going to have the opportunity to win this fight, She going to have four titles in different divisions in boxing and is going to be in history. And I always support Claressa and I know she’s going to go to MMA. I see she works very hard. And it’s going to be amazing.”
On The Catch Up with @LynchOnSports champ @criscyborg tells fans she has already purchased the All Women’s Boxing PPV being headlined by @Claressashields Women’s Day March 5th
👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾https://t.co/5vFME8qZ7y pic.twitter.com/bLfXyk7eML— 🇧🇷 @CrisCyborg.Com 🇺🇸 (@criscyborg) February 1, 2021
Shields stated that she would be transitioning to MMA as she did not feel women are respected enough in the sport of boxing.
For her upcoming MMA fight, Shields has been training with the likes of Jon Jones and Holly Holm at probably one of the best gyms in the world in Jackson Wink MMA.
However, Claressa has always maintained that despite wanting to fight in MMA, she will continue boxing as well. In Marie-Eve Dicaire, she faces an undefeated challenger and will have a huge hurdle to overcome before she can step into the PFL octagon later this year.
What do you make of Claressa’s upcoming fight? Do you think she can secure a win? Let us know in the comments below!