SAVANNAH’S MMA DEBUT OPPONENT IS SET! 👊
🏴 Savannah Marshall vs. Mirela Vargas 🇧🇷 @Savmarshall1
makes her MMA debut in the PFL SmartCage on Saturday 8th June at
the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England!Advertisement
The undisputed world champion boxer makes the transition to mixed
martial… pic.twitter.com/R8ItF86oqf
— PFL Europe (@PFLEurope)
April 26, 2024
Despite Savannah
Marshall’s impressive boxing pedigree, Mirela
Vargas believes her mixed martial arts experience will give her
an edge over the Englishwoman in their upcoming fight.
Marshall (0-0) and Vargas (1-2) are scheduled to headline
PFL Europe 2 on June 8 at the Utilitia Arena in Newcastle, Tyne
and Wear, England. While the bout will mark Marshall’s pro MMA
debut, the undisputed female super middleweight boxing champ is
being considered a sizeable favorite.
However, Vargas plans on showing the world that elite boxing skills
may not be necessarily be enough for an MMA fight. The Brazilian
who is also making her PFL debut, expects to have an experience
advantage over Savannah with three pro MMA bouts already to her
name.
“I have a feeling I come in with an upper hand, given the fact that
I have MMA experience,which is something she doesn’t,” Vargas said
through a translator during a PFL media day. “And, her fans seem to
think that she can beat me with her boxing game, but I’m coming out
there to Newcastle on June 8 to show people that in order to be an
MMA fighter: your kicks must be up to date, you need to be able to
use a cage, you need to be able to grapple, you need to be able to
submit people and do a whole lot more than you were able to do in
boxing.”
Vargas made her pro debut with a 12-second knockout win over
Ariele
Ribeiro in 2021. However, the 26-year-old has since suffered
back-to-back stoppage losses against Daiane
Silva, both in the first round.
Meanwhile, Marshall is coming off her undisputed super middleweight
boxing title win over Franchon Crews Dezurn in July 2023. “Silent
Assassin” has held titles in two weight classes, and finished 10 of
her 13 career wins, only dropping a decision against renowned
women’s boxing icon and current PFL talent Claressa
Shields.