Cris Cyborg says Claressa Shields quit MMA because it was 'too hard'

Cris Cyborg has criticized Claressa Shields for allegedly quitting mixed martial arts (MMA) due to its difficulty. In a recent social media post, Cyborg questioned Shields' progress in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and compared their boxing activity, arguing that she has competed in more fights while Shields has returned to boxing. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion stated that Shields had competed in eight boxing bouts since her MMA debut in 2021, matching Cyborg's own total while reigning as an MMA world champion.

Cyborg believes Shields made the "easiest road possible" by focusing on boxing instead of pursuing MMA. The ongoing feud between the two fighters dates back several years, with Shields claiming she defeated Cyborg in a 2018 sparring session. Both have expressed interest in a potential boxing match, but no professional contest has taken place yet.