26-year-old Mirela Vargas has the kind of opportunity that most in her position aren’t even able to dream of yet.  The 1-2 professional out of Brazil is obviously young in her career, but she has been plucked from the regional scene for the task of headlining the PFL’s upcoming event in Europe to test the developing skills of decorated boxing champion Savannah Marshall this Saturday.

Marshall is the latest decorated female boxer to make her way into the cage to try to boost her profile, following the likes of fellow PFL signees Claressa Shields, Amanda Serrano, and Bellator veteran Heather Hardy.  Vargas is obviously aware of her advanced pedigree, and she respects the challenge that the newcomer in Marshall will present.

“She’s an amazing athlete. She’s a great boxer. I definitely think she will do well in MMA. Not in this fight specifically but I think moving forward she will do well and it’ll be a good fit for her…I’ve been watching footage of her and some other female boxers as well. I definitely think she will feel the difference in the cage when we’re grappling. It’s a different ballgame and I think that’s when we’re going to see myself shine more than her.”

In terms of her own career, Vargas says that she actually had hoped to sign with the PFL as she got her career going.

“PFL gives out good contracts to the athletes. A living wage. Some of the other promotions, if you are not famous, it is hard to make a living wage right off the bat. In the PFL, they are paying me a good purse for my first fight so I can actually make a living fighting.”

Another added benefit to being a part of the PFL: the potential to fight alongside one of her inspirations in longtime Bellator featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino.  A promoter herself, Justino put on an event last year where Vargas was part of the card.  Now under the same umbrella, she admits it would be a dream come true to get to be part of an event where she fights on the same night as her legendary countrywoman.

“Oh my God. It would be a dream come true to fight on the same card as her, oh my gosh. She might not know or have any idea but she is a part of my story so that would just mean everything to me.”

Mirela Vargas fights Savannah Marshall in the main event of PFL Newcastle this Saturday, June 8.

The post Mirela Vargas Gets PFL Wish Ahead of Welcoming Savannah Marshall to MMA appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I haven’t really looked into that too much. Obviously I’ve seen Clarissa (Shields), I’ve seen Clarissa’s fights in the cage and I can see how she might have struggled with certain things,” Marshall told Cageside Press among other media during the PFL Newcastle media call on Tuesday.

“What benefited me in the boxing ring doesn’t really benefit me in MMA. I’m talking about like stance-wise. I’ve had to really change like the way I stand. As a boxer you’re a lot more side on. You obviously can’t do that in MMA.”

For Marshall (13-1 boxing) making her MMA debut against Vargas she’s had to make some major adjustments to her game. That doesn’t mean she took notes from other boxers who are not fighting in MMA.

“I haven’t really taken anything from the other girls because everyone’s different. Everyone adapts differently. All I could take from Clarrisa’s fights is I can see how she struggled with certain things,” she said.

Now having to add the grappling to her game the focus comes to Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling. The boxer says she actually prefers the Jiu-Jitsu game over wrestling.

“To be honest out of all I prefer the grappling. I prefer the BJJ to be fair. That’s my favorite out of the lot of it,” said Marshall.

Watch the entire media call with Savannah Marshall above. She takes on Mirela Vargas at PFL Newcastle on June 8. 

The post Savannah Marshall Didn’t Take Notes From Other Boxers Going To MMA appeared first on Cageside Press.