Cris Cyborg threatens to suplex Claressa Shields ‘on her head’ as bad blood reaches boiling point

Bellator women’s featherweight champ Cris Cyborg is over Claressa Shields’ online taunts and aims to make her pay either in the cage or the ring.

Cris Cyborg‘s return to MMA was a triumphant affair as she defeated two-time PFL champ Larissa Pacheco earlier this year at Battle of the Giants. She still has at least one more bout on her existing PFL contract, and she’ll either defend her Bellator title or opt for a big-name super fight.

One potential matchup is a fight with Shields, a boxing superstar and MMA fighter signed to the PFL roster. She most recently made her MMA return at PFL vs. Bellator, earning a split-decision win over Kelsey DeSantis.

Cyborg and Shields have previously teased a potential crossover fight in the ring, but the weight class for the clash has triggered a hold-up in negotiations. Despite this, things have gotten personal between Cyborg and Shields in recent weeks, fueling speculation about a possible booking.

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Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty ImagesCris Cyborg calls out Claressa Shields for open-weight fight after recent back-and-forthsIn a recent post on X, Cyborg ramped up her ongoing beef with Shields.

“In a real fight I suplex [Claressa Shields] on her head,” Cyborg said. “If she wants a boxing match, tell her to put down the cookies and chips and make 147. If she can’t make weight, tell her to sign the [PFL] deal and we can do it at an open weight, no weigh-in.”

As of this writing, Shields hasn’t responded to Cyborg’s latest jabs.

Cyborg has teased retirement in recent years and appears on the tail-end of her combat sports career. She’s also hinted at a desire to book super fights before calling it quits, and her budding feud with Shields might fit the bill.

Shields, an unbeaten boxing juggernaut, most recently defeated Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in her most recent boxing match. She earned Lepage-Joanisse’s WBO, WBC, and WBF titles after knocking her out in the second round.

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Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesCris Cyborg could make Claressa Shields one of her final opponents before retiringCyborg has also taunted former PFL superstar Kayla Harrison on social media in recent weeks, despite their previously targeted bout off the table. Harrison signed with the UFC in free agency earlier this year to make her full-time move to bantamweight.

Cyborg is arguably the greatest female MMA fighter of all time after earning a slew of championships in top promotions like Strikeforce, UFC, and Invicta FC. The 39-year-old has defended the Bellator women’s featherweight title five times since leaving the UFC in 2019.

Shields also has a potential rematch in MMA against Savannah Marshall in her crosshairs when she returns to the cage. Marshall signed with the PFL earlier this year and made her professional MMA debut in June, earning a first-round knockout.

It’s uncertain if the Cyborg vs. Shields fight will come to fruition, but things are ramping up as 2024 comes to a close. The PFL matchmakers might have another big-name fight on their hands heading into next year.

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