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The tension between Claressa Shields and Cris Cyborg has reached a boiling point as the two combat sports legends exchange verbal jabs over a potential showdown. Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and five-weight boxing world champion made it clear she has no interest in an MMA fight against Cyborg but confidently stated,
“Lord knows, I would f*** Cris Cyborg up in a street fight.”
Once training partners, their relationship soured in recent years, escalating in 2024 when Cyborg challenged Shields to face her in either boxing or the PFL cage. Shields, however, dismissed Cyborg’s callouts as attention-seeking.
“She wants the clout,” Shields remarked on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. “She’s old and I’m new. I’m popping right now. She’s a hater.” Shields also claimed to have dominated Cyborg during sparring, adding, “She’s lucky I didn’t knock her ass out.”
Shields, who has dabbled in MMA with a 2-1 record in the PFL, acknowledged that facing Cyborg in the cage would be a steep uphill battle.
“I’m not going to fight Cris Cyborg in MMA,” Shields admitted. “She’s got too much experience. ... Boxing is a more fair sport.”
Cyborg, an MMA icon and former UFC featherweight champion with a budding 4-0 boxing record, remains one of the most accomplished fighters in women’s MMA history. While she has expressed interest in a cross-disciplinary clash, Shields has stood firm, insisting any fight between them should happen in the boxing ring, where she holds a clear advantage.
The animosity between the two fighters has created significant buzz, with Shields stating she is open to a boxing match after her upcoming bout in February 2025.
“She said she wants to fight at 154. I fight Feb. 2 in Flint, Michigan, at heavyweight, 175, for the undisputed championship. Then guess what? She can get her ass kicked Feb. 3, the next day. It’s simple.”
Whether the fight happens or not, Shields’ bold statements have set the stage for a potential clash that fans across combat sports are eager to see.
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