Claressa Shields has all the confidence in the world that she will become 1-0 as an MMA fighter on Thursday.
In the main event of PFL 4, Shields an undefeated boxer who’s also a three-division champion will turn to MMA. It’s intriguing to see Shields make the turn to MMA and the boxer is confident she will beat Elkin with ease.
“I want to tell Brittney that she doesn’t sound confident in nothing that she’s saying,” Shields said at the press conference. “First it was supposed to be 15 seconds (to finish me), now it’s going to be the second round. Truth is, Brittney Elkin gonna lose. Period. I’ve been in training camp for seven months at the Jackson-Wink MMA camp, training with some heavy hitters. Arlene Blencowe, Holly Holm, Jonny ‘Bones.’ I’ve put in a whole lot of time, and I didn’t come to the PFL just to have my beautiful record in boxing, and all my accomplishments derailed by somebody who is not even really a serious fighter.
“I’m not even about to pay her attention for all this, she’s going to knock me out or submit me,” Shield continued. “I’m an athlete, I’m a fighter and as much as anyone up here on this panel, I’m an MMA fighter like y’all. So don’t count me out just because Brittney has been in MMA for 12 years and hasn’t been great at anything except for jiu-jitsu. I’m an all-around great athlete, great person and I’m just getting ready to get in there and shutting up all this stuff about grapplers being able to beat boxers. I’m not just a (boxer), I’m an MMA fighter now. Just accept it.”
There is no question many people have doubts about Shields’ takedown defense. Yet, she has been training at JacksonWink for quite some time and there is no question she has phenomenal striking and if it stands standing, it’s hard to believe there’s a better MMA fighter that can outstrike her.
