Claressa Shields is a force in boxing and a rising star in MMA but found herself in deep waters against Holly Holm, a former UFC champion. ‘GWOAT’ Shields recently opened up about an intense training experience with one of the most accomplished figures in combat sports, Holly Holm.
Claressa Shields Training with Holly Holm
Known for her legendary career in both boxing and MMA, Holm put Shields to the test in a brutal training session that left the undefeated champion questioning what she had gotten herself into.
In a recent interview, Shields recalled a moment during her MMA training camp, where she found herself face-to-face with the seasoned veteran, Holly Holm. “I’m in a training camp, getting ready for the fight, right? And they got me there with Holly Holm, and they’re like, first of all, Holly is an OG. She’s an OG. Holly Holm and Jonny Bones—Holly Holm is an OG,” Shields began, highlighting Holm’s experience and status in the fighting world.
The session was designed as a “big boxing day,” but with a twist. Both fighters wore large gloves, allowing for punches while still incorporating takedowns. However, not all fighters were willing to stand and trade blows. “Some people are like, ‘Look, I’m not good at standing up, so I’m gonna take you down,’” Shields explained.
As Claressa Shields threw punches at Holly Holm, she was taken aback when the MMA veteran retaliated with a kick that caused a minor injury. “I’m talking about, I’m giving Holly the hands—the big rights, boom boom boom. I’m—man, she threw a kick. Man, her toenail cut my nose and nicked me. I said, ‘Oh, [expletive], it’s real!’”
The situation escalated quickly as Holly Holm took Claressa Shields to the ground, forcing the boxing champion into a position she was unfamiliar with. Shields admitted, “Then I get mad, I start charging her, hitting her—hitting her—boom, boom. She took me down to the ground, and I couldn’t get up. I couldn’t get up. The way she was putting her head inside my chin and my neck, the way she was putting her elbow on me—I’m like, ‘What the hell am I supposed to do down here?’”
With her training team urging her to work on the techniques she had been taught, Claressa Shields found herself struggling to escape. “Man, I said, ‘This is for real.’ I said, ‘What did I get myself into?’”
Shields’ journey into MMA has been marked by impressive achievements. She made a successful debut in 2021 with the PFL and won her first fight by TKO in the third round. In boxing, Shields holds an undefeated record of and she made history as the first boxer to hold undisputed titles in multiple weight classes simultaneously in the four-belt era.
Holly Holm is a former world champion boxer and UFC icon has also made her mark in both sports. Holm retired from boxing with an impressive record and transitioned to MMA, where she famously defeated Ronda Rousey to become the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion in 2015. Additionally, she holds a spot in the Boxing Hall of Fame.
Claressa Shields will next look to defend her title against Danielle Perkins on February 2, and will likely compete in MMA later this year as well. Holly Holm is still an active fighter and a staple of the UFC.
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