Claressa Shields, the undisputed women’s heavyweight boxing champion, declared her MMA career over on May 19, 2025, during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. The 30-year-old, holding a 16-0 boxing record, stepped away from the Professional Fighters League (PFL) after three fights, finishing with a 2-1 record. Shields cited the intense training demands and injuries as key reasons for her exit.
“MMA is done, sweetheart,” she said. “It was fun. I don’t have enough time to train for it. It takes six months, eight months to get ready to defend takedowns. I got a lot better, I put in time. I had my arm broken twice. It was fun, and I enjoyed every fight.”
Her words reflected the effort and challenges she faced in transitioning to mixed martial arts.
Shields revealed she declined a PFL offer for one final fight against Shadasia Green, citing insufficient financial terms.
“My family never wanted me to do it. I did it because I wanted to prove a point. I proved that point. to me three times, but you can say twice because I won twice .. I was offered one more fight with the PFL. It would have been against a girl who’s on my level … It takes a lot of time to train for MMA. Time that I don’t have,” she stated.
Claressa Shields is done competing in MMA: Oh no, MMA is done, sweetheart. #HelwaniShow pic.twitter.com/IEeX3A9h6t
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) May 19, 2025
From Olympic Gold to MMA Experiment
Claressa Shields began her combat sports journey as an amateur boxer, earning Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016, the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic titles. Turning professional in 2016, she became the undisputed champion in three weight classes—middleweight, super middleweight, and heavyweight—with a perfect 16-0 record, including three knockouts. Her latest boxing win came on February 2, 2025, defeating Danielle Perkins by unanimous decision in Flint, Michigan, to claim the undisputed heavyweight title.
In 2020, Shields signed with the PFL to test her skills in MMA, debuting on June 10, 2021. She won her first fight by TKO against Brittney Elkin, showcasing her striking ability. Her second bout resulted in a split-decision loss to Abigail Montes in October 2021, followed by a decision victory over Kelsey DeSantis in February 2023. Shields noted the physical toll, including two arm injuries, as a significant factor in her retirement decision.
Shields had ambitions of becoming a PFL MMA world champion and facing top fighters like Kayla Harrison or Larissa Pacheco.
“I did have aspirations of being PFL MMA world champion and having a fight with Kayla Harrison one day, or Larissa Pacheco. I did have those dreams and did have aspiration but just not enough time. I’m great already in boxing and to be great like that in MMA, I would have to train at least three to four years consistently,” she said.
Her MMA retirement follows a recent suspension by the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission for a positive marijuana test after her February 2025 boxing win, though her promoter, Dmitriy Salita, expressed confidence in her vindication. Shields now focuses on boxing, with a scheduled fight against Lani Daniels on July 26, 2025, in Detroit, and potential future bouts against Savannah Marshall or Cris Cyborg.
Shields’ short MMA career demonstrated her willingness to challenge herself in a new sport. Her return to boxing underscores her dominance in the ring, where she continues to build an unmatched legacy as a pioneer and champion.
