Savannah Marshall ’s MMA debut went about as well as she could hope for. On Saturday, Marshall headlined PFL Europe 2 against Mirela Vargas in the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England, and while she it wasn’t entirely smooth sailing, Marshall still managed to secure a first-round TKO win. A former accomplished kickboxer, Vargas attacked Marshall with leg kicks early, taking Marshall off her feet a number of times, but “Silent Assassin” got right back up and fired off boxing combinations early and often.
Vargas then tried to put her BJJ purple belt to good use with takedowns and grappling, but Marshall showed her work with UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall had paid off as she repeatedly got back to her feet, one time even nearly taking Vargas’s back. In the end, Marshall’s power punching proved too much for Vargas as she stung her with a heavy combination and then battered the 1-2 MMA fighter around the cage with hooks and uppercuts until the referee was forced to jump in and halt the contest. NEWCASTLE STAND UP! Savannah Marshall gets it done as old foe Claressa Shields looks on! #PFLNewcastle pic.
twitter.com/D5Y0EjGak3 After the fight, Marshall wasted no time in calling out top pound-for-pound female boxer and former opponent Claressa Shields , who sat cageside for the fight. “Where’s me pal, Claressa?” Marshall said.
“See that? That’s how you get up off the floor, babe!” Shields also competes in PFL and has a 2-1 record in the organization.