Savannah Marshall has taken a surprising step by following the paths of boxers Claressa Shields and Amanda Serrano to join the Professional Fighting League (PFL), a notable US-based MMA promotion featuring renowned fighters like Francis Ngannou.
This move by Savannah Marshall might be unexpected, as there was no prior indication of her interest in MMA. Her decision leads her to become part of the newly-established PFWL (Professional Fighting Women’s League) within PFL, focusing on female fighters on the promotion’s roster.
Marshall’s move follows the footsteps of Claressa Shields and Amanda Serrano, both active world champions, who also recently joined or re-signed with PFL. The intriguing possibility of a matchup between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall, stemming from their rivalry since their amateur days, could emerge, though the weight class for Marshall’s participation remains unknown. The prospect of their rematch shifting from the boxing ring to the octagon is a realistic possibility now that both fighters are signed to the same MMA promotion.
Claressa Shields has a current MMA record of 1-1, including a split-decision loss in October 2021. Around a year later, Shields secured her second undisputed middleweight championship of her career by defeating Marshall with a unanimous decision.
Amanda Serrano also ventured into MMA, participating in three fights – two in 2018 and one in 2021 – resulting in a record of 2 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw. Alongside her MMA endeavors, Serrano has engaged in Jiu-Jitsu, boasting an undefeated record of 5 wins in 5 matches with 4 submissions.
On the other hand, Savannah Marshall has yet to debut professionally as an MMA fighter. It is speculated that she might follow the path of Shields and Serrano, maintaining both her boxing and MMA careers simultaneously.