Mack Beggs, a transgender MMA fighter, has accepted the problem from former Strikeforce champion, Jake Shields. Shields has been identified to specific controversial views on social media, together with his views on transgender athletes. He has even engaged in back-and-forths with Alana McLaughlin, an MMA fighter who represents the trans neighborhood in competitors.
Beggs, a two-time highschool wrestling champion who transitioned whereas nonetheless in highschool, has stepped as much as Shields’ problem. In a latest publish on Beggs’ Instagram, he acknowledged that he would take up Shields’ supply, however not in the way in which Shields meant.
“It’s the truth that y’all are so fixated and hyper-fixated and have some f***ing fetish with trans girls that you just even neglect that we f***ing out right here, and we going to f*** you up,” Beggs stated.
Shields shortly responded to Beggs’ acceptance of the problem on Twitter, stating that Beggs thinks he can beat him in a struggle.
Whereas Shields has a formidable MMA report of (33-11-1), along with his final struggle being at PFL 10 in 2018, Beggs is keen to take him on in a cage. Regardless of the seriousness of Shields’ problem being questionable, Beggs is eager to show his value in a struggle towards him.
Beggs has beforehand received the Texas highschool women’ 110lbs state wrestling championship in 2017 and 2018 whereas transitioning. A few of his opponents forfeited matches towards him because of the wrestler taking testosterone whereas transitioning. Shields, however, stays a staple determine in Nick and Nate Diaz’s preparation, regardless of now not competing.
It’s value noting that Shields has been within the information beforehand for his controversial views on transgender athletes. His tweets prior to now have led to McLaughlin calling him out, and his latest problem to “the ten hardest trans males” to a struggle was met with criticism from the trans neighborhood.
Beggs’ response to Shields’ problem has additionally drawn consideration to the problem of trans athletes in fight sports activities. Whereas some have questioned the equity of permitting trans athletes to compete in fight sports activities, others argue that they need to have the identical alternatives as another athlete.
No matter the place one stands on this problem, evidently Beggs is able to step as much as Shields’ problem and show himself within the cage. It stays to be seen whether or not or not Shields will observe by on his supply, but when he does, it’s positive to be an fascinating and extremely publicized struggle.
