Paired up with little known Brazilian talent Mirela Vargas, Marshall did what she needed to do, surviving a pair of takedowns that showed at the very least, she’d paid attention to her wrestling and grappling training, while absolutely dominating on the feet.

The WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring female super-middleweight champ frankly overwhelmed Vargas, whose takedowns had an air of desperation as the end drew nigh. The fight never made it out of the opening round, with Marshall landing lefts and rights as Vargas tried and failed to cover up, occasionally swatting back as if trying to shoo her opponent away.

Marshall would not be deterred however, and the ref had soon seen enough, waving off the fight and handing Savannah Marshall a standing TKO win.

SAVANNAH MARSHALL STOPS VARGAS IN THE FIRST! 👀

Savannah stops Mirela Vargas at the end of the first round after getting taken down numerous times! 😳#PFLNewcastle | LIVE NOW ON DAZN pic.twitter.com/XybwMJo0aU

— PFL Europe (@PFLEurope) June 8, 2024

“If I could I’d punch, Jesus. Look, I’ve only been doing this nine months. I’ve absolutely loved it,” Marshall said following the fight. “But these MMA fighters, you’ve got to be a little bit crazy to do it.”

Consider fellow boxer and rival Claressa Shields among the crazy ones then. Marshall specifically pursued Shields to MMA with the hope of landing a second fight with her, this time in the cage. And Shields was on hand for an impromptu face-off on Saturday, after Marshall closed out the night at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle. “That’s how you get off the floor, babe,” Marshall told Shields at one point, though the face-off was anything but tense with both athletes all smiles.

"THAT'S HOW YOU GET UP OFF THE FLOOR BABE!" 🔥

Savannah Marshall fires shots at Claressa Shields after her MMA debut victory, and both agree to a MMA fight in the SmartCage! 👀#PFLNewcastle | LIVE NOW ON DAZN pic.twitter.com/9CHafMDMiN

— PFL Europe (@PFLEurope) June 8, 2024

Where ever she fights next, Marshall suggested the promoter will need to get out the pocketbook. The PFL would be crazy, however, not to strike when the iron is hot, despite Shields having a few more fights in MMA.

The post PFL Newcastle: Savannah Marshall Makes Successful MMA Debut, Faces Off with Shields appeared first on Cageside Press.

Marshall, set to face Brazil’s Mirela Vargas, was the rare 0-0 fighter landing a main event spot in her pro debut. But her boxing pedigree and the fact that old rival Claressa Shields was also signed to the PFL resulted in a bit of fast-tracking, especially with Marshall being very open about pursuing a fight in MMA opposite Shields.

Also on the PFL Newcastle card, Dylan Tuke, weeks removed from the loss of his mother, faced Kane Mousah, who, to his credit, had paid Tuke plenty of respect for even staying in the fight. Bellator MMA vet Charlie Leary, meanwhile, faced off with Jack Grant.

Where to Watch PFL Europe 2: Newcastle

Saturday, June 8, 2024’s PFL Europe 2 card was set for the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England. The card streams live via DAZN in North America; full results can be found below.

PFL Newcastle: Marshall vs. Vargas Results

Main Card

Savannah Marshall def. Mirela Vargas by TKO, Round 1, 4:27
Dylan Tuke def. Kane Mousah by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Jack Grant def. Charlie Leary by KO, Round 1, 0:41
Lewis McGrillen def. Matiss Zaharovs by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Shanelle Dyer def. Mariam Torchinava by KO (head kick), Round 1 3:53

Preliminary Card

Ibragim Ibragimov def. Josh Reed by submission (arm-triangle choke), Round 1, 0:50
Julien Lopez def. Dominique Wooding by submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 3:10
Karolina Wójcik def. Lizzy Gevers by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Claudio Pacella def. Mark Ewen by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
​​Khurshed Kakhorov def. Tuomas Grönvall by KO, Round 3, 1:11
Valentina Scatizzi def. Marie Loiseau by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Ben Woolliss def. Nikola Ivanovic by TKO, Round 1, 4:02
Alexander Luster def. Alperen Karabulut by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 1:59
Paulina Wiśniewska def. Dee Begley by TKO, Round 2, 3:08

The post PFL Newcastle: Marshall vs. Vargas Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

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.

In a recent press release, promotion officials revealed the full line-up for the card, which is set as the second PFL Europe event of 2024, following a show in Paris last month.

Headlining PFL Europe Newcastle will be British boxing champ Savannah Marshall (0-0 MMA, 13-1 boxing), making her MMA debut against Mirela Vargas (1-2). While a debuting fighter might seem like an odd choice to headline a show, Marshall has won belts in two weight classes during his boxing career, and her only loss in the sport came to Claressa Shields – who now also calls the PFL home in terms of her MMA career.

The remainder of the PFL Europe Newcastle card at the Utilita Arena on June 8, 2024 is comprised of European talents including Bellator alum Kane Mousah facing Dylan Tuke in the co-headliner. The line-up currently breaks down as follows:

• Savannah Marshall vs. Mirela Vargas
• Kane Mousah vs. Dylan Tuke
• Jack Grant vs. Charlie Leary
• Dean Garnett vs. Ayton De Paepe
• Shanelle Dyer vs. Mariam Torchinava
• Ibragim Ibragimov vs. Josh Reed
• Frans Mlambo vs. Luke Shanks
• Lizzy Gevers vs. Sammy-Jo Luxton
• Mark Ewen vs. Mathias Poiron
• Khurshed Kakhorov vs. Bondo Kikadze
• Valentina Scatizzi vs. Marie Loiseau
• Ben Woolliss vs. Maher Belkhadir
• Alexander Luster vs. Alperen Karabulut
• Dee Begley vs. Paulina Wisniewska

The post PFL Europe Newcastle Card Announced for June 8, Savannah Marshall Headlines appeared first on Cageside Press.

The big news comes just weeks after the promotion announced they had re-signed Marshall’s longtime boxing rival, Claressa Shields. “T-Rex” made her MMA debut back in 2021 where she was victorious over Brittney Elkin, but was defeated just four months later by Abby Montes.

Marshall and Shields shared the ring back in October of last year and Shields picked up the WBO Middleweight title becoming the undisputed champion, handing Marshall her first professional loss in the process. Since then Marshall has gone on to become the Undisputed Super Middleweight champion beating Franchon Crews-Dezurn.

PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a press release announcing the deal that “It’s an exciting time for PFL as we officially launch PFLW and the addition of Savannah Marshall strengthens the best global roster of women in combat sports. PFLW is committed to the empowerment and equality of all female athletes and provides a dedicated platform for women to become PFL MMA champions.”

This marks the third signing of a women’s boxing champion, as three weeks ago they announced the signing of Amanda Serrano to the PFL’s Super League.

With rumours still floating around regarding PFL’s acquisition of competitor promotion, Bellator, there is no doubt they are continuing to make big moves in combat sports as an entirety, not just MMA.

Savannah Marshall’s exclusive PFL deal will run alongside her current boxing career, meaning a rematch with Claressa Shields could come in either sport.

The post PFL Announce Signing of Boxing Champ Savannah Marshall to Multi-Year Deal appeared first on Cageside Press.