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Alycia Baumgardner is speaking out. After an incident with Claressa Shields at the Rhonda Rousey, Gina Carano event on Saturday (May 16).
Baumgardner Breaks Silence After Shields Incident
In a statement shared to her social media account on Monday (May 18), the boxer insists that she was not the antagonist in her incident with Shields. And says that the situation was completely “unprovoked.”
“When your purpose is to elevate, there will always be people who attempt to pull you down. To the level from which they operate. The situation that occurred on Saturday was unprovoked and entirely consistent with the individual involved,” the statement reads.
Shields and Baumgardner have a documented history of issues. And that all came to a head. Backstage at Saturday night’s event, which ended in Shields slapping Baumgardner in a viral video. Alycia says that Saturday night’s events were on brand for Shields. And pointed to her rap sheet of past questionable behavior.
“While attending Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA event as a guest, I was physically assaulted without provocation,” she continued. “This behavior follows a continued pattern. From someone who has publicly celebrated other fighters’ brain injuries. Initiated one-sided altercations at press conferences. And consistently displayed hostility toward other women. That conduct is unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any professional sport.”
Baumgardner also says that she could look into pursuing legal action. Noting that the situation will be “handled legally and internally.”
— Alycia Baumgardner (@alyciambaum) May 19, 2026
Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) also spoke out following the incident. And decided to ban Shields from all future 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,” they said.
