PFL: Claressa Shields grounds and pounds her way to third-round TKO on MMA debut against Brittney Elkin
- Boxing icon shows composure to survive two rounds of dominance on the ground from Elkin before staging dramatic comeback at PFL 4
- ‘I had a never quit attitude every round. I heard my coach saying let her up, I told myself hell no,’ says Shields
Claressa Shields faced two rounds of adversity and then mounted an impressive comeback to finish Brittney Elkin on her MMA debut in the Professional Fighters League.
Elkin (3-7) had dominated Shields on the ground for most of 10 minutes in the main event of Thursday night’s PFL 4 event in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
But boxing’s “GWOAT” (greatest woman of all time) showcased her champion mentality and grit with some impressive jiu-jitsu defence, given she has only been training at Jackson Wink in Albuquerque for seven months.
It was white belt against brown belt, but 26-year-old American Shields stayed calm in difficult positions and weathered the storm with composure and patience.
Then, against the best advice of her corner, who told her to stay behind her jab, she re-engaged on the ground after weathering another takedown attempt, and pounded out the win at 1:44 of the third round.
“Your daughter’s a dog,” Shields screamed in celebration as she looked to her mother outside the cage at the Ocean Casino Resort.
