Claressa Shields caught some criticism recently when she implied that she might be able to earn her BJJ black belt in two years because she was a “quick learner”. Regardless of how you feel about her comments, it’s nice to see that the two-time Olympic Champion and three-time World Champion is taking the journey seriously. Realistically, it’s something she’s going to have to do if she wants to have a successful MMA debut for PFL as her elite boxing skills alone aren’t going to be enough to see her through to success.
Claressa Shields recently put up a post on her official Instagram account to celebrate her first day of BJJ training under Roberto Alencar in a crisp gi and white belt. She made a solid choice to join Jackson-Wink MMA as it gives her the chance to keep up to date with top-level strikers thanks to Holly Holm, who coincidentally was also wearing a white belt despite her grappling skill. Of course, it also gives her the attention and tutelage of some of the best MMA coaches available who will be able to train her to piece together her existing skills with all of the new knowledge she’s going to amass.
Speaking of the new knowledge, she should have no trouble in picking up the intricacies of Jiu-Jitsu seeing as she’s starter her journey under Roberto Alencar. He’s a four-time IBJJF no gi World Champion who’s beaten some elite grapplers like Rafael Lovato and Eduardo Telles since receiving his black belt from Carlos Gracie Jr. Whether she’s a black belt in two years or not, (probably not) it’ll be interesting to see how far Shields’ grappling skills will come by the time she makes her PFL debut.
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