FORMER undisputed middleweight boxing champ Claressa Shields has thanked Conor McGregor his his MMA advice.
But Shields rates Jon Jones as UFC’s Greatest Of All Time.
Claressa Shields is poised to make her MMA debut this summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
UFC legend Conor McGregor chipped in with some MMA advice for ShieldsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The 25-year-old American will aim to unify ANOTHER weight division on March 3 when she fights Marie Eve Dicaire for the super-welterweight world titles.
And in June, Shields will take her first steps into MMA when she makes her debut.
In December she signed a multi-fight deal with the PFL promotion but she will not be giving up boxing.
And UFC’s former two-weight world champ McGregor was just one MMA star to offer Shields some advice as she makes the transition with a post on Instagram.
Shields, speaking to Marc Gatford via the Betway Insider blog, said: “It was very welcoming.
“To me, Jon Jones is the GOAT in MMA, but Conor McGregor was considered the GOAT once upon a time too and they’re both great in their own right.
“I just feel when Conor reached out, I feel like in a way he actually cared and he was wishing me good luck and that’s what I appreciated most.
“He didn’t have to give me any advice, he could have just seen it and kept on but instead he was like, ‘I’m going to give out this advice’, and it was great. I took it, I use it and hopefully everything goes as it’s supposed to go.”
Jon Jones is UFC’s GOAT, according to ShieldsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
McGregor is plotting his own MMA path back to the top and is chasing the trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier.
The Irishman fell to a shock KO loss in their February rematch that delayed any hopes he has of fighting for the lightweight title.
And Shields has passed on some of her own advice for how The Notorious can avenge that defeat.
She added: “Conor can avenge it but it’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’d probably been out two or three years.
“I would say he needs to get out of the boxing mindframe to win that fight. He had his front foot too forward, too much weight on his leg, more like a boxer’s stance.
“It’s like he needs to get back to having light feet and [being] quick and explosive, using all his attributes, not just his punches; punches, kicks, knees, he needs to get back being creative.
“But I tell you what, it’s hard to do, it’s hard to cut off the boxing switch and cut on the MMA switch.
“When you’re doing both it’s hard, you have to be very mentally strong and say ‘this is MMA, everything goes’ and then you have to click that button and go to boxing and say ‘this is boxing, there are rules’ so it’s hard and I can just imagine that after being out of the cage for so long that his mind was adjusting and still looking to land those big shots.
“He probably didn’t generate it in his mind, he needs to go his mind and click on the ‘everything’ switch and use every part of the body as a weapon.
“I know he was boxing against Floyd but he needs to cut off the boxing switch and focus strictly on MMA for at least three or four months.”
Original interview came via the Betway Insider blog, where you can find all the latest sporting insight and tips
Claressa Shields to make MMA debut in June as boxing champ vows to train and ‘come out like a powerhouse’
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
