After already showcasing superiority in one combat discipline, Savannah Marshall now gets to try her hand at MMA, making her professional debut here tonight in her hometown of Newcastle. Marshall became the first female British world champion in boxing when she won the 2012 World Championships. As an amateur, Marshall, who also won gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, defeated Claressa Shields. A two-time Olympian, Marshall has a pro boxing record of 13-1 (10 KOs), with her sole loss coming in 2022, when she dropped the WBO female middleweight title to Shields. Marshall has since rebounded and is the current undisputed Women’s Super Middleweight Champion in boxing.

 

Mirela Vargas made her professional MMA debut in December 2021 with a 12-second knockout victory over Ariele Ribeiro. Vargas, who promotes being a well-rounded martial artist, has lost her other two fights – both coming against Daiane Silva in 2023.

 

Will Marshall be able to get the victory in her professional MMA debut? Or will Vargas make the new experience a nightmare?

 

 

Round 1

 

Combination with an inside leg kick from Vargas. Low kick from Vargas. Right hand by Marshall. Another leg kick from Vargas. Marshall answers with a one-two. Another leg kick trips Marshall up. A clinch sees a couple of knees from Vargas before Vargas scores a takedown. Vargas lands a couple of shots around the body. Vargas rises up and tries to land, but Marshall gets back to her feet.

 

Marshall rocks Vargas and throws a combination against the cage! Vargas lands her own power shot that backs Marshall up! Marshall fires back! Marshall doing damage and gets Vargas to the mat, but Vargas smartly grabs Marshall’s legs and scores a takedown. Marshall gets back to her feet, and she continues to land the right hand. Marshall with another powerful combination as the referee warns Vargas to fight back. Vargas scores another takedown and pins one of Marshall’s legs down.

 

Marshall goes into side control and looks for a shoulder choke. Marshall now looks for an arm-triangle, but Marshall gets back to her feet. Marshall teases a choke before the two get back to swinging away. Marshall with another brutal flurry of shots! Vargas is swinging back, but Marshall is landing at will! The fight is stopped with 31 seconds left in the first!

 

 

Savannah Marshall passes her first test in the PFL MMA cage! And the crowd in Newcastle loves it!

 

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Savannah Marshall defeats Mirela Vargas by 1st round TKO (4:27) to win her professional MMA debut.