MVP bans Shields from events after physical altercation with Baumgardner

Most Valuable Promotions has decided to ban undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa Shields from all future events, after her physical altercation with unified super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner at MVP MMA1 event on weekend.

MVP announced the decision on Monday.

"Effective immediately, Claressa Shields is banned from all MVP events until further notice," the promotion said in a statement on X. "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."

Shields and Baumgardner, who have been engaged in a war of words over the past couple of years, were at the event at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles when they crossed paths. Video from the event shows Shields and Baumgardner exchange words until Shields reached across and slapped her rival's hand away.

Shields took to social media after the incident, suggesting that Baumgardner was verbally aggressive and had threatened her with physicality before the slap.

 Baumgardner released a statement Monday in response.

 "The situation that occurred on Saturday was unprovoked and entirely consistent with the individual involved," she said, adding that she was "physically assaulted without provocation."

 Baumgardner also said the "situation has been and will continue to be handled legally and professionally."