“T-Rex” Claressa Shields, 28, of Flint, Michigan, United States was one of the winners at “PFL vs Bellator: Champs“. It is the first mixed martial arts event to take place in Saudi Arabia.
Shields is 5’8″ tall. In 2021, she made her professional MMA debut by joining the Professional Fighters League.
Co-promoted by the PFL and Bellator MMA, “PFL vs Bellator: Champs” was held at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 24, 2024. On the card were one amateur MMA bout and 10 professional MMA bouts.
In the third bout, which was the only one women’s bout on the card, Shields fought Kelsey de Santis, 35, of San Diego, California, USA at a catch weight of 165 pounds. Kerry Hatley served as the referee.
After three five-minute rounds, Hatley raised the hand of Shields. She was declared the winner via split decision.
The loss downgraded de Santis’s professional MMA record to 1 win and 3 losses. On the other hand, Shields now has 2 wins and 1 loss.
Beating de Santis at “PFL vs Bellator: Champs” marked Shields’s second PFL victory. PFL chief executive officer Peter Murray stated, “Tonight the Professional Fighters League and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were at the center of the MMA world.”
“PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions was the first-ever PFL PPV Super Fight global event and delivered electrifying action from the best fighters in MMA,” Murray continued. “The PFL remains committed to delivering premium MMA experiences to our fans around the globe.”
CONAN Daily 