Things got REAL tense between boxing champs Claressa Shields and Alycia Baumgardner Saturday night at MVP MMA 1 inside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
Video clips now going viral across social media show the two fighters standing face-to-face during the event before tensions exploded. At one point, Shields appeared to slap Baumgardner’s hand away during the heated exchange as security and people nearby quickly stepped in before things turned physical. Check out more on Claressa Shields to stay in the loop.
The star-studded event, promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and streamed on Netflix, featured a packed fight card including Ronda Rousey’s MMA return, along with appearances from Nate Diaz, Mike Perry and Francis Ngannou.
The viral footage showed the boxing stars exchanging words just inches apart while fans nearby recorded the moment. Former NFL star Michael Irvin could even be seen filming parts of the confrontation himself.
After the clips hit the internet, Shields immediately addressed the incident online and accused Baumgardner of disrespecting her first.
“Imma continue giving bitches hell respectfully,” Shields wrote on X. She also claimed Baumgardner threatened to beat her up before later “playing victim.”
Meanwhile, Baumgardner appeared to throw subtle shade of her own by posting a glam photo with the caption, “This Is Why You Mad,” leading fans to believe she was hinting at jealousy.
The beef between the two champions has been brewing for years despite competing in completely different weight classes. Shields has repeatedly criticized Baumgardner publicly, including comments about past performance-enhancing drug allegations and recent fight performances.
Baumgardner has fired back multiple times over the years, accusing Shields of being obsessed with her and constantly seeking attention.
While Saturday’s altercation never became a full fight, fans online are already calling it one of the wildest moments in women’s boxing this year.
Social media remains divided — with some fans loving the raw intensity and others calling the behavior unprofessional 🥊🍿
★
