Tearful Claressa Shields says she ‘almost got my arm snapped’ during MMA bout in Saudi Arabia before the converted boxer scored split-decision win: ‘It’s not easy what I’m trying to do’

Inscolding Claressa Shields admitted that he felt like his arm was almost broken in Saturday’s mixed martial victory in Saudi Arabia.

The undefeated boxer and two-time Olympic gold medalist was moonlighting in the cage once again, where she scored a split decision victory over Kelsey DeSantis to improve to 2-1 as an MMA lightweight.

“I almost broke my arm on a damn barbell,” Shields said in his post-fight interview. “I had to fight my way out of it.”

Shields, who also battled a severe cramp, became emotional as he described the difficult transition to MMA.

“What I’m trying to do is not easy and I have been very respectful of the sport,” she said. ‘I tried hard, I’m going to go back to the gym and work harder.

De Santis receives a punch against Shields during the PFL vs Bellator: Champs 2024 event

“There were days at camp where I was literally crying,” he continued. “I wasn’t considering going back to the gym because it was so hard, but I forced myself to go back and that’s how I got the win tonight.”

The fight was part of the PFL vs. event. Bellator in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Renan Ferreira defeated Ryan Bader with a first-round TKO in the main event.

While Shields continues to improve as an MMA fighter, boxing’s top fighter should have plenty of options in both sports in the future.

There’s even a chance he could have a rematch with Savannah Marshall, whom he beat in the boxing ring in 2022. The pair may have an MMA fight next.

Claressa Shields celebrates after defeating Kelsey De Santis on Saturday in Riyadh

“Savannah needs to understand, and the sooner she understands the better, you can’t beat me at anything,” Shields told Sky Sports. ‘The sooner she understands it, the better we will all be. Just leave it.

‘We can fight in boxing, I will win. We can fight MMA, I’ll win. We can fight in the street, I’m going to win. It doesn’t matter. We can play ping pong, I’m going to win.’

Shields has criticized boxing, calling the sport sexist and pointing to six- and seven-figure salaries for women in MMA.

“Kayla (Harrison), I watch all her fights,” Shields said on social media in 2020. “She had the opportunity to fight for a million dollars (in MMA) before I had the opportunity to fight for a million dollars in boxing and I have achieved everything there is to achieve in boxing.”