Boxing star Claressa Shields reveals she turned down final PFL fight offer and exits MMA

Boxing star Claressa Shields has announced that she is done with MMA and turned down a final fight offer from the PFL. Shields, a decorated boxer and Olympic gold medalist, shared that her decision was influenced by personal reasons, including her family and her relationship.

Shields entered the world of MMA with high hopes, but after three fights, she decided it was time to step away from the cage. She cited her relationship with rapper Papoose and her family's concerns as major factors in her choice to focus fully on her boxing career.

Fans of both boxing and MMA will be interested to learn why Shields has decided to close this chapter, especially since she was offered one more fight with the PFL but declined. For more details about her decision and her plans moving forward, read on to see Shields’ thoughts and what this means for her future in combat sports as reported here.

Claressa Shields’ MMA Journey and Decision to Leave

Claressa Shields, a world-renowned boxing champion, made headlines by stepping into mixed martial arts. Her journey included challenging fights in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and a recent decision to leave MMA behind after turning down a final fight offer.

Background of Claressa Shields’ Mixed Martial Arts Career

Shields started her MMA career after becoming a multi-division world boxing champion and the undisputed middleweight champion. She joined the Professional Fighters League, aiming to test her skills against elite MMA athletes.

Training for MMA forced Shields to learn new techniques like takedown defense, grappling, and submissions. Adapting to a different combat sport was not easy for her because she was used to only boxing rules. Shields took her preparation seriously, working with experienced coaches and fighters in leading gyms.

During her time in MMA, Shields dealt with new physical and mental challenges, including injuries that made training even harder. Still, she showed determination and courage in adapting to the demands of a different sport.

Turning Down the Final PFL Fight Offer

In 2025, Shields revealed she turned down a final offer from PFL for one more fight. She was offered a bout against Shadasia Green but did not agree to the financial terms or the contract details. Shields said that her focus had shifted, and she wanted to step away from mixed martial arts.

In interviews, Shields made it clear that “MMA is done” for her. She also mentioned her injuries and how hard it was to recover, as she broke her arm twice during her MMA career. Shields stated that the time spent on training for MMA took away from her boxing focus.

Her decision to leave was also influenced by her personal life and her desire to avoid long breaks from the boxing ring. Shields believes her future remains strongest in boxing.

Key MMA Fights and Results

Shields’ MMA debut took place in June 2021 under the PFL banner. She faced Brittney Elkin and won by TKO in the third round, showing her ability to adapt quickly to MMA rules.

Her next major fight was against Abigail Montes where Shields lost by split decision. This marked her first professional loss in any combat sport. She showed improvement in her grappling and defense but still struggled with some aspects of MMA.

Shields ended her MMA stint with a record of 1 win and 1 loss in official fights. Despite the challenges she faced, Shields earned respect for taking risks outside of boxing and competing at a high level in both sports. Her fans still recognize her as a trailblazer who became a champion in boxing and dared to challenge herself in mixed martial arts.

Boxing Achievements and Career Milestones

Claressa Shields has earned a place among the top athletes in combat sports with an outstanding

track record. Her journey has included championship wins, Olympic gold medals, and recognition as one of the best boxers in history.

Olympic Gold Medals and Notable Wins

Shields became an Olympic gold medalist in 2012 at the London Games. At just 17, she won the middleweight division, becoming the first American woman to win boxing gold.

She returned in 2016 to the Rio Olympics, defending her title and securing her second gold medal. Shields remains the only American boxer—male or female—to win two Olympic gold medals in boxing. These early victories marked her as a major force in the sport.

Her amateur career included standing out at World Championships and national tournaments. Shields had a dominant amateur record, showcasing her technical skills and mental toughness.

Super Welterweight and Middleweight Titles

After turning professional, Shields captured titles in multiple weight classes. She won the WBC and IBF super welterweight titles, then went on to unify the division by claiming the WBA and WBO belts.

Shields also became the undisputed middleweight champion by winning all four major belts (WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO). She was the first boxer in the four-belt era to become undisputed champion at both super welterweight and middleweight. These victories show her ability to move between weight classes and dominate at each level.

In championship bouts, Shields consistently faced top opponents and came out on top. Her transition across divisions proved her skills and adaptability.

Recognition as Pound-for-Pound Greatest Woman

Shields is often called the pound-for-pound greatest woman in boxing. Her unblemished professional record and championships in multiple weight divisions support this claim.

Many boxing experts and analysts have ranked her at the top due to her record, skill, and achievements. Shields has also broken barriers for women’s boxing by fighting on major cards and promoting the sport.

Her success in championships and her technical skill have made her an influential figure in combat sports. Recognition as greatest woman of all time is backed by her consistent wins and impact in the ring.

Professional Fighters League and Industry Impact

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) stands out as a unique organization in mixed martial arts. Claressa Shields' short but notable MMA career in the league attracted significant attention, and the league uses well-known venues to reach fans.

Structure and Significance of PFL

The PFL is different from other organizations because it uses a season format, not just one-off fights. Fighters earn points in a regular season for wins and finishes, with the highest point-getters moving into playoff brackets. This gives fighters a clear path to a championship.

PFL’s format rewards consistency and performance, providing regular opportunities for athletes to compete. Champions receive a large cash prize, usually $1 million, which is a strong incentive. Events often air on major platforms like ESPN2, helping the league reach a broad audience.

The league’s approach appeals to fans who want to follow athletes through a structured season. This system has helped the PFL grow its presence in the MMA world and attract top athletes from different sports.

Claressa Shields' Influence on the League

Claressa Shields, already a multi-division world boxing champion, decided to enter the PFL to try MMA. Her move was covered widely and brought attention from both boxing and MMA fans. Shields competed in three professional MMA fights under the PFL banner, earning two wins and one loss.

Her participation helped the league appeal to a new audience. Shields’ story highlighted the challenges elite boxers face when crossing over into MMA. Her run showed that even top athletes outside MMA need to adapt their skills for success in a new sport.

Shields' recent decision to leave MMA and focus on boxing made headlines, sending a clear message about the demands and differences in both sports. Her time at the PFL also sparked discussion about the difficulty of balancing schedules and the level of support athletes need in each sport. More on why she left can be found at Claressa Shields sends blunt message on MMA future.

Key Venues: Dort Financial Center and Atlantic City

PFL hosts events in venues known for combat sports. The Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan, is one location where Claressa Shields fought. This venue holds special meaning for Shields, as Flint is her hometown. The venue is recognized for its role in supporting local talent and hosting large sporting events.

Atlantic City has also been used for many PFL events. With its history of major boxing and MMA matches, Atlantic City remains a key destination for fans and athletes. The city offers professional settings, good promotion, and easy travel for fighters and fans.

Major events are broadcast on ESPN2, which increases the visibility of these venues and the athletes competing there. This exposure helps both local businesses and the PFL as an organization attract new audiences.

Media Coverage, Partnerships, and Public Response

Major sports outlets and industry partners followed Claressa Shields' MMA announcement closely. Brands and fans gave a range of reactions about her move.

Coverage by Yahoo, ESPN2, and AOL

Shields’ statement about leaving MMA was widely picked up by high-profile sports media. Yahoo wrote several news updates, tracing her journey from boxing champion to MMA and back to boxing. Coverage on ESPN2 included panel discussions on why top athletes struggle crossing over into mixed martial arts.

AOL highlighted the reason Shields gave for leaving, quoting her description that MMA was simply "too hard." These articles often included audience polling for immediate feedback. Industry trackers used content measurement tools to see which headlines and story types captured the most attention. This data is often used to guide future sports news coverage around crossover athletes.

Role of Partners and Sponsors

Several of Shields' commercial partners paid close attention to her career decision. Sponsorship contracts can be affected when an athlete switches sports, especially if the move impacts their public profile or media exposure. Partners like PFL and brands linked with Shields reassessed their strategies for ongoing or new endorsement deals.

Services development teams also used audience research to see how much interest there was in Shields’ appearances. This shaped decisions about advertising, branded content, and event partnerships. Sponsors look for stable, high-visibility athletes, so a shift away from MMA led to adjustments in marketing and outreach plans.

Fan and Audience Reactions

Fans voiced mixed feelings across social media and sports forums. Some were disappointed that Shields would no longer fight in MMA, especially after following her difficult path in the PFL. Others understood her choice, since she had struggled with injuries and found the sport much more challenging than boxing.

Audience reactions, monitored through both direct polling and social listening tools, showed a spike in engagement after her announcement. Many fans debated whether crossover fighters can succeed long-term in MMA. Ongoing content measurement by networks and partners informed how they covered the story and how they plan to cover athletes making similar career choices in the future.

Privacy, Data Protection, and User Settings

Websites collect and use personal data for many reasons, including making services work and showing relevant ads. There are choices users can make to control their data and privacy online.

Consent and Cookie Policy Overview

Websites ask for user consent before collecting certain information, often through cookie banners. Cookies are small data files stored on a device, helping sites remember preferences, logins, and items in a shopping cart.

Many sites give clear options like Accept All, Reject All, or Manage Privacy Settings. These choices allow users to decide which types of cookies are used. Some cookies are needed for websites to work (called essential cookies), while others are for tracking or advertising.

A strong cookie policy should explain the purpose of each cookie and how long data is kept. It should also inform users about third-party cookies that might track browsing across different sites. Consent can be changed at any time by reopening the cookie settings.

Protecting Personal and Geolocation Data

Personal data like names, email addresses, IP address, and payment details must be handled securely. Many websites use encryption and other security measures to protect this information from hackers or unauthorized access.

Geolocation data, which shows a user's physical location, often needs special approval. Sites may use geolocation to improve services or show content based on a user’s location. Users usually get notified and can allow or deny access to their location.

It is important that users know how their information will be used and whether it will be shared with outside companies. The privacy policy should be easy to understand and update users about changes that affect personal or location data.

Managing Privacy Dashboard and Settings

Most modern websites offer a privacy dashboard or settings panel. This lets users view, change, or delete their personal information that the website collects. The dashboard often includes toggles for enabling or disabling certain types of data collection.

Users can also download their data or request to delete their account. Adjusting privacy settings allows people to control things like targeted ads, search data history, and personalized recommendations.

It is helpful to review privacy settings regularly. Keeping them updated ensures there’s no unused data or tracking happening without consent. Step-by-step instructions are usually provided to make managing preferences easy.

Advertising, Analytics, and Security Measures

Advertising and site analytics often rely on cookies and tracking technologies to gather information, such as which pages are visited or how long users stay on a page. This data guides businesses in improving content and targeting ads that match a user’s interests.

Users can choose to allow or block personalized advertising by changing privacy settings or opting out of certain types of cookies. Some sites provide clear lists of partners who may collect analytics data for marketing or technical reasons.

Security measures like multi-factor authentication, encrypted connections, and anti-spam tools help protect accounts and keep information private. These features work in the background to authenticate users and prevent spam, ensuring only authorized people can access certain services or data.