Boxer turned PFL fighter, Claressa Shields won out in her MMA debut at PFL 4 via a third-round TKO due to ground strikes. ‘T-Rex’ Shields put forth a comprehensive display of her athleticism and training to earn her first win in the cage. Shields landed a barrage of strikes in the last round, leaving the referee with no choice but to wave off the fight.
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Heading into the final round, Shields was down 2-0 as Elkin overwhelmed her with takedowns, earning a significant amount of control time. However, the tide turned towards the end of round 2 and Claressa Shields showed her championship mettle.
MMA debut ✅@Claressashields earned the third-round TKO victory at #2021PFL4 pic.twitter.com/U1DZZsKctq
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 11, 2021
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Claressa Shields vs Brittney Elkin: A debut showcase
The three-division boxing champion has gotten her MMA career off on the right foot. She will be keen to continue her winning momentum. What’s more, she proved that she can weather the storm put forth by her opponent and bounce back stronger. The MMA community reacted to Claressa Shields’s performance and there were plenty of things to say.
I love that @Claressashields has been in shit positions the entire fight but still has stay disciplined and not panicked. Is she can stay upright she TKOs her in the 3rd.
— Funky (@Benaskren) June 11, 2021
Shields wins by TKO!!!! She was losing big in the first two rounds. Unreal. #pflmma
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) June 11, 2021
Shields wins via 3rd round TKO. GNP. Good stoppage. Ref gave Elkin every chance to survive.
The ground game obviously needs a ton of work but give Shields credit for not giving up after that brutal first round and finishing strong.
She is fired up.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 11, 2021
Clarissa Shields is amazing!! That was a great comeback!
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) June 11, 2021
She was down two rounds and stopped her in the third. THE GWOAT @Claressashields #GWOAT
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) June 11, 2021
Nice gut check by Claressa Shields. Weathered the storm, stayed calm in positions & got the stoppage. That was sheer WILL & determination !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) June 11, 2021
😳
— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) June 11, 2021
Despite picking up the victory, Shields‘ win against Elkin has given pause to the notion that she can take on Kayla Harrison next. While it’s certainly a blockbuster super fight to make, the general consensus is that Claressa Shields needs more time to hone her skills.
Claressa Shields being the one to challenge Kayla Harrison in the PFL was a fun premise while it lasted, but I think it will be years before Shields is on her level.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 11, 2021
It’s clear that her time at Jackson Wink has gone a long way in helping build a sound game plan. Training with the likes of Jon Jones and Holly Holm has given Shields the fast-tracked preparation she needed. MMA fans will be excited to see her continue to put in the work as she embarks deeper into her MMA run.
As for Brittney Elkin, she’s now 3-7 as a pro and her record has fallen below the fifty split margin. She was out of her depth on her feet and didn’t respond too well to the relentless ground strikes landed in round three. However, the takedowns and control time against the cage will certainly be a positive takeaway.
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