Paige VanZant is officially off to the squared circle to try her hand as a professional wrestler.
The former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Strawweight and Flyweight prospect last fought in her original sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) when suffering a first-round armbar submission defeat to Amanda Ribas at UFC 251 in July 2020. VanZant has since gone on to compete as a bare-knuckle boxer for the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) before recently signing with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
âI could retire tomorrow and be financially free, and my kids would be pretty close to being financially free,â VanZant told MMA Fighting. âIâm fortunate enough, I did build my name up, I know how hard I worked in the UFC and I know how much dedication I had. I did all the appearances nobody else wanted to do. I traveled the world. Every weekend, I was in a different state doing appearances. I was fortunate enough, I did have that grind mentality to build my name up. I did social media, â Dancing with the Stars ,â really did what I could to build myself as a business and as a brand.
âSo then when my contract ended with the UFC, I was able to go out there and be fortunate enough to sign with BKFC. They offered me a great contract. It opened the doors to all these other things that I wasnât really able to do when I was with the UFC.â
VanZant, 27, is allowed the option to continue competing in the BKFC along with AEW and any possible MMA opportunities. Though she admits that MMA is no longer something she needs to do, that applies to every other venture as well. For her, itâs just about the love of the journey now.
The majority of VanZantâs 8-5 MMA career came in the Octagon where she fought nine times and took on names like Michelle Waterson, Jessica-Rose Clark, and current Strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas. Although âPVZâ enjoyed her time with the promotion, she believes those days are squarely behind her.
âOf course, I love the UFC,â VanZant said. âI love the organization. Thereâs a reason they are as successful as they are. Thereâs a reason they were able to get to this level. They have a well-oiled machine and theyâre very, very good at it.
âBut I know in my heart that I will never fight for them again, just because they donât pay enough. I donât see the benefit of going back to the UFC. Right now, Iâm fortunate enough, I built myself up to a specific place and I can take that and use it wherever I go.â
Thread title should read:
PVZ makes more $ showing her cooter and tits!
Changing it for you Meow
And She Could
TRANSLATION: The UFC wonât offer me a contract.
Right? Letâs not forget she lost 4 of her last 6 fights.
I am gunna say well done pvzâŚone of the few women fighters that made some real cash.
And,why tf would she want to fight for the ufc again? There is litterally no upside for her if she did.
She isnt top tier and will never win a belt and they pay girls at her level shit money.
She built her self a name and cashed inâŚagain,well done pvz.
She makes way more than 99% of UFC fighters by taking selfies all day.
Jealous is the emotion youâre feeling, in case youâre confused.
Never Forget Geekity
You mean OF ?
She does look TasTTy
they would sign her in a heartbeat but she knows her worth and ufc doesnt pay that
Which promotion would pay more?
tea
You seem confused.
Her worth as a fighter is next to nothing. They let her go for a reason.
They arenât gaining any new viewership by paying her big bucks to bring her onlyfans creep base over.
Good for her making bank doing what sheâs done but letâs not be stupid here about her fighting career and options or worth.