Jake Paul was perfectly cool with Arman Tsarukyan nearly starting a fight backstage during MVP MMA 1, but his fight company is taking a completely different view of things after undisputed women’s heavyweight champion Claressa Shields slapped MVP-signed fighter Alycia Baumgardner in a VIP area on Saturday night.
Video of the incident shows the two-time Olympic gold medalist and former PFL fighter Shields arguing with Baumbardner and a security worker stepping in between them as things get more and more heated.
A shot from moments later captures Baumgardner pointing a finger at Shields and Shields slapping Baumgardner’s hand away.
That moment of contact was enough for MVP to ban Shields from future events.
“MVP maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for hostile, threatening, or aggressive behavior toward fighters, staff, media, or guests at any of our events,” a statement read. “Physical altercations outside the ring or cage are unacceptable in any MVP environment. MVP does not condone, tolerate, or accept Claressa Shields’ behavior in that setting and it reflects poorly on MVP and women’s sports, which we have worked tirelessly to uplift.”
“Effective immediately, Claressa Shields is banned from all MVP events until further notice. There is a time and a place for fighter tension and banter, but to physically attack a fellow athlete while there as a guest inside a private VIP area is unacceptable.”
Baumgardner also released a statement, writing “While attending Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA event as a guest, I was physically assaulted without provocation … This behavior reflects a repeated pattern of hostility, chaos, and attention seeking conduct that continues to embarrass womens’ sport. This situation has been and will continue to be handled legally and professionally.”
While a more cynical fan might consider this a prelude to a fight between Shields and Baumgardner, we have our doubts. Baumgardner fights at 130 pounds while Shields is at 165 pounds, leaving us with little more to watch than videos like this of them squabbling outside the ring.
