UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has praised undisputed light middleweight boxing titleholder Claressa Shields for making the transition to MMA.

Shields is widely regarded as one of, if not the greatest female boxer of all time. The 26-year-old has held multiple world championships across three weight classes and holds the record for achieving two and three-division title glory in the fewest amount of professional fights.

The undefeated Michigan native, who won back-to-back Olympic gold medals at the London and Rio games, has entered the ring 11 times as a pro, with gold being on the line on every occasion beyond her debut. Unlike most, success inside the squared circle wasn't the end of Shields' combat sports ambition.

This year, "T-Rex" tested the waters of MMA, signing with the rising Professional Fighters League promotion. In her debut, Shields overcame adversity in the opening two rounds to secure a third-frame TKO victory.

While the same issues on the ground were present in her sophomore appearance, this time, she wasn't able to mount a comeback. Against Abigail Montes At PFL 10, Shields fell to her first defeat as a professional in combat sports.

Adesanya Praises Shields For Trying "Real Fighting"

Shields is now set to turn her attention back to the sport of Boxing. On January 29, she's set to put her WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles on the line against Slovenia's Ema Kozin. But she's insisted her journey in MMA is far from over, something the UFC's middleweight king certainly respects.