Cris Cyborg said on X that Claressa Shields quit MMA because it was too hard and 'picks and chooses the easiest road possible'; no Shields reply or fight talk is reported.
What we know
- Cyborg wrote on X, quoting @knockoutsx, that Shields 'quit MMA because it was too hard and went back to boxing'.
- Cyborg wrote that Shields 'picks and chooses the easiest road possible' and could be a purple or brown belt in BJJ by now.
Reported, not confirmed
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Cyborg claims Shields has had eight boxing fights since returning, matching her own boxing count while she held an MMA title.
Knockout Daily
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Shields had her first MMA fight in 2021; no reply from her is reported and no fight is discussed.
Knockout Daily
Cris Cyborg did not leave a vague subtweet. She quoted a fan account, put numbers on her case and aimed it straight at Claressa Shields. The post came Tuesday on X, and so far it is one-sided: no reply from Shields is reported, and nobody has discussed a fight between them.
The spark was a @knockoutsx post saying Shields "made MMA look EASY despite being a BOXER." Cyborg pointed out that Shields had her first MMA fight in 2021, then wrote that Shields quit MMA because it was too hard and went back to boxing. Why a fighter leaves a sport is not something an outsider can prove, so that line is opinion.
The activity comparison is something that can be checked. By Cyborg's count, Shields has had eight boxing fights since returning to the ring. Cyborg says that equals the number of boxing fights she has had herself while holding an MMA world title. She also said Shields could be a solid purple or brown belt in BJJ by now, a jab at how Shields used the years since 2021.
Cyborg is 41, from Brazil, and is the PFL women's featherweight champion. Her own career has drawn matchmaking questions. Yahoo Sports' Uncrowned panel wrote that finding her relevant opponents "has always proven to be a chore." That is context fans are likely to throw back at her over the "easiest road" line.
The same Uncrowned piece says Cyborg is not done fighting, with Scott Coker's Ki MMA about to launch and MVP MMA with plans of its own. Whether this post is a real call for a fight is a read, not something Cyborg has said. The thing to watch is whether Shields answers, and whether either side turns the exchange into a booking.
The spark was a @knockoutsx post saying Shields "made MMA look EASY despite being a BOXER." Cyborg pointed out that Shields had her first MMA fight in 2021, then wrote that Shields quit MMA because it was too hard and went back to boxing. Why a fighter leaves a sport is not something an outsider can prove, so that line is opinion.
The activity comparison is something that can be checked. By Cyborg's count, Shields has had eight boxing fights since returning to the ring. Cyborg says that equals the number of boxing fights she has had herself while holding an MMA world title. She also said Shields could be a solid purple or brown belt in BJJ by now, a jab at how Shields used the years since 2021.
Cyborg is 41, from Brazil, and is the PFL women's featherweight champion. Her own career has drawn matchmaking questions. Yahoo Sports' Uncrowned panel wrote that finding her relevant opponents "has always proven to be a chore." That is context fans are likely to throw back at her over the "easiest road" line.
The same Uncrowned piece says Cyborg is not done fighting, with Scott Coker's Ki MMA about to launch and MVP MMA with plans of its own. Whether this post is a real call for a fight is a read, not something Cyborg has said. The thing to watch is whether Shields answers, and whether either side turns the exchange into a booking.
- Summary
- Cris Cyborg said on X that Claressa Shields quit MMA because it was too hard and 'picks and chooses the easiest road possible'; no Shields reply or fight talk is reported.
- Key points (one per line)
- Cyborg quoted a @knockoutsx post on X on Tuesday and said Shields quit MMA because it was too hard.
She says Shields has had eight boxing fights since returning to the ring, matching her own boxing count while holding an MMA world title.
No response from Shields is reported, and no fight between them has been discussed.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/cris-cyborg-just-torched-claressa-shields-says-mma-was-too-hard-for-her
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