Alycia Baumgardner released a lengthy public statement after her physical altercation with Claressa Shields during MVP MMA 1 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
The undisputed super featherweight champion accused Shields of physically assaulting her without provocation while attending the Netflix-backed event as a guest. Baumgardner also described the incident as part of a continued pattern of hostility and attention-seeking behavior that she believes damages women’s combat sports.
She took to X and wrote:
“When your purpose is to elevate, there will always be people who attempt to pull you down to the level from which they operate. The situation that occurred on Saturday was unprovoked and entirely consistent with the individual involved. While attending Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA event as a guest, I was physically assaulted without provocation. This behavior follows a continued pattern from someone who has publicly celebrated other fighters’ brain injuries, initiated one-sided altercations at press conferences, and consistently displayed hostility toward other women.”
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She added:
“That conduct is unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any professional sport. This behavior reflects a repeated pattern of hostility, chaos, and attention-seeking conduct that continues to embarrass women’s sports. This situation has been and will continue to be handled legally and professionally. My focus remains far beyond individuals who lack discipline, professionalism, and self-control, inside or outside the ring. I have spent my career representing myself, my family, and the sport of boxing with class, integrity, and respect. I will continue to do so. I want to congratulate Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix on an event that continues to raise the ceiling for women’s combat sports, and I look forward to continuing to be a positive force in the evolution of the sport.”
Check out Alycia Baumgardner’s X post below:
The statement arrived shortly after videos of the confrontation spread rapidly across social media. During the incident, Baumgardner approached Shields before tensions escalated into a heated exchange that required security intervention. Multiple angles of the altercation circulated online throughout the weekend.
Claressa Shields recently received major recognition outside boxing
The incident also came during a major week for Claressa Shields away from the ring.
Just days before the altercation, Shields was officially featured inside the American Museum of Natural History as part of the For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence exhibit in New York City. The museum recognized Shields for her accomplishments across boxing and combat sports while showcasing memorabilia connected to her career.
The recognition added another major milestone to Shields’ legacy as a multi-division undisputed champion and Olympic gold medalist.
Edited by Abhishek Nambiar