Unified junior middleweight/middleweight champion Claressa Shields, 25-years-old and a two-time Olympic gold medal winner, surprised a lot of people last month when she confirmed her decision to transition to mixed martial arts.

Shields (10-0), who is arguably the top female fighter in the sport, signed a promotional contract with Professional Fighters League (PFL).

Her decision was heavily influenced by Kayla Harrison's move to PFL.

Harrison, like Shields, is a two-time Olympic gold medal winner. Harrison won her medals in judo, while Shields secured both of her golds in boxing.

Last year, Harrison fought her way to a five round decision over Larissa Pacheco in the PFL Championship main event to win the top prize of $1 million - an amount of money that few female boxers have generated in a full career.

Over the last few years, several female boxers have crossed over to MMA - with the most successful easily being Holly Holm, who made a significant amount of money in her UFC run with several pay-per-view headline fights.

Unlike Holm, who gave up boxing for a full-time career in MMA, Shields is looking to compete simultaneously in both sports.

"I'm a little nervous because I have to start seriously training, but it's a good nervous," Shields said to Bleacher Report.

"I love how the PFL has a season where they give all their fighters the chance to control their own destiny. You get to fight for a million dollars if you work your way up to it. In boxing, I've done everything you can do: world titles, multiple divisions, broken records, undisputed. I still haven't made a million dollars for a fight yet."

"People wondered if I'd really do [MMA], and I always said it had to be the right opportunity and the right conversation. The right conversation is giving me the chance to actually train, get ready and learn to [the point] where, when it's time for me to get into the ring with an elite MMA fighter, I'm ready. I don't think anybody could ever throw me to the wolves—I'm the wolf. We're just going to take my time and learn. I'm not going to go in there and give myself a disadvantage."

Shields had discussed the possibility of crossing over to MMA in the past - with many combat sports fans doubting her words and claiming she was too "scared" to make the move.

"MMA fans need to bow down and kiss my feet and throw rose petals because I'm actually making the transition," Shields said. "I'm not just saying it. I'm actually doing it. So give me my props. Never say that Claressa Shields is scared of nobody.

"I could just stay in boxing and make my money. But before I turned pro, I read this quote and it said: 'If your dreams don't scare you a little bit, they're not worth dreaming.'

"When I read that, it's what made me sign a contract to turn professional in boxing. That's why I turned pro, and I did exactly what I said I would: I'm the greatest woman of all time [in boxing]. I aspire to do the same thing in MMA."