Claressa Shields returned to the MMA cage after almost two years in a historic bout at the PFL vs Bellator PPV against Kelsey DeSantis.
1-1 in her mixed martial arts career, Claressa Shields improved her record to 2-1 as she picked up a hard-fought split decision win over Kelsey DeSantis at the Saudi Arabia event.
With the victory, Shields is now back in the winning column. It wasn’t an easy fight for the Boxing legend, who admitted in the post-fight interview that she is having a hard time transitioning to the sport of mixed martial arts.
Claressa Shields gets the W and improves to 2-1!#PFLvsBellator LIVE NOW
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“It’s not easy what I’m trying to do and I’ve been so respectful of the sport… I almost got my arm snapped in the freakin’ armbar.” An emotional Shields said during the post-fight interview. “I was considering not going back to the gym because it was so hard.”
What happened in the Claressa Shields vs Kelsey DeSantis fight?
Shields landed a strong right hand in the first round, almost dropping DeSantis to the floor. Fighting at the catchweight limit of 165 lbs, Shields, despite the size disadvantage, looked much stronger than her opponent. She was able to get the better of the exchanges near the cage.
Idc if she loses.. claressa shields @Claressashields is a DOGGG yall!! The greatest women’s boxer in the world, still fully committed to dominate in boxing, was caught in an ARM bar and she never tapped!! 99.9% of girls in shields position as GWOAT would’ve tapped ASAP 2 be safe pic.twitter.com/Ef9mEm7b2r
— Jᴇssᴇ Jᴀᴍᴇs (@NotoriousJesse) February 24, 2024
However, DeSantis took down Shields convincingly, almost submitting the boxing legend in the last minute with an armbar to close the round.
The second round started in the same fashion as the first, with Shields landing a combination of punches on DeSantis, who looked clueless in the face of Shields’ striking. While Kelsey took Shields down again in the second round, the Olympic champion immediately got up and continued her striking onslaught.
That stare from @Claressashields though 🥶️#PFLvsBellator Early Card👉 https://t.co/73VqXRgCY5 pic.twitter.com/I8H1IQpQVP
— DAZN MMA (@daznmma) February 24, 2024
The third round however was once again in favour of Kelsey DeSantis, who dominated Shields on the ground after an early takedown to finish the fight strong. Despite the difference in skills on the feet, Shields had a tough time in the clinch and had no answers for the American fighter whenever the fight went to the ground.
According to the post-fight stats, Shields landed 96 strikes compared to DeSantis’ 66. The official scorecards read, 28-29,29-28, and 28-29 for the winner by split decision Claressa Shields.