Claressa Shields’ eagerly anticipated switch to MMA is now official after it was announced Wednesday that women's boxing’s most decorated fighter will take on Brittany Elkin in Professional Fighters League on June 10.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist has been training with some of the sport’s biggest stars ahead of her debut in Atlantic City.
Since expressing a desire to join PFL at the backend of 2020, Shields has been prepping at Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, alongside former world champions Jon Jones and Holly Holm.
“I am very excited to cement my legacy as the Greatest Woman of All Time,” revealed Shields. “I cannot wait to step into the PFL cage for the first time on June 10 and show the world that I never back down from a challenge. I have shown I am the best boxer in the world and eventually I intend to do the same thing as a mixed martial artist.”
Elkin has a career record of 3-6-0 and the brown belt jiu-jitsu athlete has experience competing across Bellator, Sparta Combat League and Fight 2 Win. Her first and only matchup with the PFL came in June 2018 when she battled future PFL champion Kayla Harrison, losing via submission in the opening round.
“I’m very grateful to be back in the PFL and to have this opportunity to square off with Claressa Shields,” declared Elkin. “I know she is a great boxer but this is MMA and I plan to show everyone that I am a well-rounded fighter who can compete wherever the fight takes me.”