Claressa Shields, as well as an undisputed and once-in-a-lifetime boxing champion, will this year step into the mixed martial arts cage in a bid to become a one-day multi-sport title holder. .
As a result of her career choice, she made a natural comparison with UFC star Conor McGregor, who became the company’s first-ever managing champion of two weight classes at one point before joining. to the boxing ring to defy the unsuspecting record of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
In a recent interview with Marc Gatford via the Betway Insider blog, Shields explained how McGregor went out of his way to help and advise her as she expressed her intentions.
“It was very welcoming,” she said. “For me, Jon Jones is the GOAT in MMA, but Conor McGregor was once considered the GOAT as well and they are both good in themselves.
“I just feel like when Conor came out, I feel like he cared and wished me good luck and that was what I really valued. air.
“He didn’t have to give me any advice, he could have seen and carried on but instead it was like‘ I’m going to take out this advice ’, and he was very good, I took it, I will use it and hope that everything goes as it should. ”
Many look to McGregor’s pursuit of a second big money boxing fight against Manny Pacquiao as one of the reasons he wasn’t at his best when he was beaten by Dustin Poirier in their second UFC fight. in January.
Shields believes he can win the triple, if the two run back once more. But she feels that the Irishman had to be fully committed to the cage this time.
She said: “Yeah, Conor can get his revenge but he’s going to take some hard work. He’s been out of the MMA cage for a while, I know he had his last fight but before his last fight he was probably out two or three years.
“I’d say he has to get out of a boxing mindset to win that fight. His front leg was too advanced, too much pressure on his leg, more like a boxer’s stance. It’s like he has to get on back to getting light feet [being] swift and explosive, using all his virtues, not just his puns; punches, kicks, knees, needs to get back to being creative.
“But I’m telling you what, it’s hard to do, it’s hard to cut off the boxing version and cut the MMA version. When you do both it’s hard, you have to be good strong mind and say ‘this is MMA, it’s all over’ and then you have to click that button and go boxing and say ‘this is boxing, there are rules’ and so it’s sad and I can think of that after being out of the cage for so long that mind was changing and still looking to land those great sights.
“It may not have generated in his mind, he has to go to mind and click on the ‘everything’ version and use every part of the body as a weapon. I know he was very boxed. Floyd ‘s face but he needs to cut off the boxing turn and focus tight on MMA for at least three or four months. ”