Boxing champion Savannah Marshall wins her MMA debut with stunning first-round stoppage before facing off with rival Claressa Shields and demanding a rematch inside the cage
Savannah Marshall scored a brutal first round victory in her MMA debut in Newcastle on Saturday night.
The boxing star took on Mirela Vargas in PFL Europe and delivered a dominant performance, with the fight stopped with 32 seconds left of the first round and Vargas reeling.
In August, Marshall signed a multi-year deal with the Professional Fighters League, just a fortnight after Shields extended her deal, and the two immediately teased a rematch, although it had not yet materialized.
Shields was in the cage on Saturday to watch her rival secure the win, and was seen picture-in-picture on the broadcast clapping the 33-year-old as the fight was stopped.
After the fight, the American stepped into the ring and agreed to face Marshall in a rematch of their historic boxing fight in October 2022.
Savannah Marshall (right) scored a dominant first-round victory in her MMA debut in Newcastle on Saturday
Marshall signed a deal with the Professional Fighters League in August and competed in her first fight
After the fight, she took on rival and friend Claressa Shields (right) in the octagon
With Vargas in the center of the ring late in the first round on Saturday, Marshall was able to see some strong right and left hands as she chased down her opponent.
Vargas appeared to accept defeat and covered up as the blows continued to land, before the referee stopped the fight and Marshall staggered away in celebration.
Marshall went to the mic post fight and said, “These MMA fighters, you gotta be a little crazy to do this.”
She added: ‘Where is my friend Claressa? This is how you get off the floor, honey.”
Shields then entered the ring and said, “Good job. You looked worse than me on my debut.”
Marshall responded, “Oh yeah. Listen, are we going to turn it on in the cage or something?’
Shields responded, “I will fight you in a cage. Why not?’
Dan Hardy, head of combat operations for PFL Europe, said in the aftermath: ‘
“Claressa is the next fight we’re going to have. Claressa was very complimentary about Savannah. I think Savannah got Claressa’s respect tonight, not only what she can do with her hands, but how she made the transition to MMA.
“The obvious thing is that Claressa and Savannah are going to fight next and I think that’s going to happen. Claressa has to do a little boxing and then we’ll get started on that fight.
“My understanding is that this will be towards the end of the year this year.”
Shields stood cageside to watch the event and entered the cage before being asked about a rematch under MMA rules
The American handed Marshall’s only professional boxing loss when the two faced off in 2022
Shields has a 2-1 record in MMA, winning in his debut against Brittney Elkin in 2021 before losing via split decision to Abigail Montes a few months later.
Two and a half years later, in February, she returned and won against Kelsey DeSantis.
In October 2022, Shields defeated Marshall via unanimous decision at the O2 Arena in London to inflict her rival’s only defeat to date. They have remained good friends ever since.