Three Fights Claressa Shields Should Take Next in MMA

Claressa Shields has proven she can compete in MMA, but competing and conquering are different games. With a professional record that still reads limited sample size, the boxing icon needs strategic matchmaking to build both credibility and momentum in the cage. These three bouts — ranked by readiness and upside — would clarify whether her transition is novelty or genuine threat.

1. Aspen Ladd (PFL, 145/155)
This is the fight that makes sense now. Ladd is a former UFC bantamweight contender with legitimate grappling chops and heavy hands, but she's also hittable and has shown vulnerability under pressure. The narrative writes itself: decorated striker versus proven ground technician. Shields would face her first opponent with serious submission threat, forcing her to prove the defensive wrestling holds up against a fighter who actually wants to take her down. Ladd's name carries UFC cache without the elite-level scrambling that could expose Shields too early. A win here would be the first line on her MMA resume that casual fans recognize.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott on Ticketmaster →

2. Kayla Harrison rematch (PFL, catchweight or 155)
Harrison submitted Shields in two minutes during their first meeting, a result that still shadows every conversation about Shields in MMA. The size disparity was real — Harrison is a natural 155-pounder with Olympic judo credentials — but Shields has added grappling work and cage time since. A rematch would need careful weight negotiation, likely at a catchweight near 150, but the promotional value is undeniable. Shields could rewrite the narrative if she survives the grappling exchanges and finds her range. Even a competitive loss would validate the progress. This fight is aspirational, not immediate, but it is the one that haunts her career if it never happens.

3. Cris Cyborg (Bellator, 145 or openweight exhibition)
Recent comments between the two camps suggest this fight has been floated and rejected on financial terms, with sparring allegations adding personal edge. Cyborg is a striker, which plays to Shields' strengths, but she is also a freight train with decades of combat experience across multiple disciplines. The risk is that Cyborg's clinch work and veteran cage craft overwhelm Shields before pure boxing becomes a factor. Still, the crossover appeal is massive — two all-time greats from different combat sports settling a grudge. If the money aligns and the weight is fair, this becomes the biggest PPV draw Shields could anchor in MMA. It is the riskiest option on paper, but legacy fights rarely wait for perfect timing.

Shields has options, but the window for building an MMA reputation on her own terms is narrow. The Ladd fight builds credibility. The Harrison rematch erases doubt. The Cyborg fight sells tickets. She needs all three, in that order, if this transition is going to be remembered as more than a curiosity.