MMA star Kayla Harrison has said ‘it’s only a matter of time’ until Claressa Shields is successful following her switch from boxing to the Professional Fighters League earlier this month. 

Harrison, 30, who made her featherweight debut at Invicta FC 43 last month, is ‘excited’ to see Shields transition. 

American Harrison said: “We’re very similar. She came from pretty much nothing and made something of her life. We’ve both done that, and we know what it takes to reach the top of the mountain, and now this is just a new mountain for her just like it was for me. 

"I think that as long as she still has that fire and as long as she has the right people around her, she’s gonna be successful. It’s only a matter of time.”

The star competed in judo and became a two-time Olympic gold medalist before moving to MMA. 

"I’m super excited for it,” Harrison told MMA Junkie. 

“I’m proud of Claressa for making the transition. It’s a scary thing to do, but it’s such an exciting thing. I think she left her comfort zone, and the sky’s the limit for her.

"I’m proud of the PFL for continuing to grow the division and build the women’s division, and I’m proud that I helped create a division for her to go to. There was no real 155-pound division before."

Shields, 25, took no time since signing for MMA to tease a fight against Harrison at the end of next year.

Harrison said: “Obviously, she’s very green, very young in her career, but time will tell, and if we ever get the opportunity to fight, I know we’ll do it with mutual respect and it’ll be one hell of a show.”