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’

Beeearful Claressa Shields admitted she almost felt her arm break during Saturday’s mixed-martial victory in Saudi Arabia.

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

“My arm almost got stuck in a damn arm bar,” Shields said in her post-fight interview. “I had to fight it out.”

Shields, who also suffered from severe cramps, became emotional as he described the difficult transition to MMA.

“It’s not easy what I’m trying to do and I’ve had so much respect for the sport,” she said. ‘I’ve been working hard on it, I’m going to go back to the gym and work harder.

De Santis takes a blow against Shields at the 2024 PFL vs Bellator: Champs event

“There were days in camp where I was literally in tears,” she continued. “I didn’t consider 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. Bellator event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Renan Ferreira defeated Ryan Bader by first-round TKO in the main event.

While Shields is still improving as an MMA fighter, boxing’s premier female fighter should have plenty of options in both sports in the future.

There’s even a chance she could get a rematch with Savannah Marshall, who she defeated in the boxing ring in 2022. It’s possible the pair could have an MMA fight next.

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

“Savannah has to understand – and the sooner she understands the better – you can’t beat me at nothing,” Shields told Sky Sports. ‘The sooner she understands that, the better it will be for all of us. Just give up.

“We can fight in boxing, I’m going to win. We can fight MMA, I’m going to win. We can street fight, I’m going to win. It does not matter. We can play ping pong, I’m going to win.’

Shields has criticized boxing, calling the sport sexist and pointing to some six- to seven-figure paydays 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.”