Abigail Montes Turned Her Shields Upset Into a Wider PFL
Abigail Montes defeated Claressa Shields by split decision on October 27, 2021, earning a prominent early victory in her PFL career. The Mexican fighter’s later appearances brought close decision defeats, a rebound stoppage and a submission setback.
A high-profile opponent in 2021
Shields entered their meeting after winning her professional MMA debut against Brittney Elkin. Her extensive boxing achievements made the second MMA appearance a closely watched step in her transition between combat sports.
Montes won two judges’ cards 29–28, with the third scoring the same margin for Shields. The result left Montes unbeaten through three professional MMA contests and gave Shields her first defeat in that discipline.
The 2022 season proved difficult
Montes competed in PFL’s women’s lightweight season the following year. Both appearances ended in split-decision defeats, against Olena Kolesnyk and Marina Mokhnatkina.
She returned in a featherweight showcase against Brandy Hester on June 8, 2023. After early striking exchanges, Montes secured a takedown, worked toward the back and landed ground punches that brought a technical knockout at 3:06 of round one.
Montague interrupted the recovery
Michelle Montague faced Montes in another featherweight showcase on August 23, 2023. Their opening round included exchanges on the feet and battles for position against the fence.
Montague ultimately won by rear-naked choke in the second round. The sequence placed the Shields upset within a broader campaign, showing both Montes’s ability to produce a significant victory and the uneven results that followed against other PFL opposition.
Sources
- MMA Junkie / Yahoo Sports: Shields result and scorecards
- PFL: Hester stoppage and preceding split decisions
- PFL: 2022 opponents and Montague contest
