Paige VanZant is about for a return to MMA, 5 years after parting methods with the UFC. The previous hot-prospect turned Onlyfans star, turned bare-knuckle boxer, turned skilled wrestler, turned influencer boxer, turned slap preventing competitor (have we missed something?) will start to combine the martial arts once more as she has signed with the newly fashioned, World Battle League (GFL). Taking to her podcast, Paige VanZant introduced that she had been provided a contract and agreed to its phrases. She acknowledged: “I believe that is the proper alternative as a result of I undoubtedly didn’t depart MMA as a result of I wasn’t keen about it anymore.”
VanZant will be part of well-recognised names reminiscent of Tyron Woodley, Fabricio Werdum, Anthony Pettis, Luke Rockhold and Frank Mir amongst an entire host of others. The GFL will probably be launched in April of this yr.
Paige VanZant set for MMA Return
Paige VanZant debuted within the UFC again in 2014 and rapidly rose to the principle occasion scene, nonetheless, was rapidly discovered to be very rudimentary in her talent set. She made two essential occasion appearances, dropping each, nonetheless, picked up some large wins throughout her time with the corporate.
The spotlight of her UFC profession was arguably her efficiency of the evening profitable knockout over Bec Rawlings when she landed a well-timed, swap kick to her Aussie competitor.
THE FLYING KICK!@PaigeVanZant returns THIS Saturday at #UFCBrooklyn on @ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/gWNUrOKxhD
— UFC (@ufc) January 15, 2019
Since leaving the UFC, Paige VanZant has by no means fairly discovered her toes. She debuted in BKFC, going 0-2 with the promotion, proving that her boxing abilities simply weren’t as much as scratch compared to those that take the game critically.
Throughout this time, she made a short look on AEW alongside fighters from American Prime Staff. It didn’t final lengthy, nonetheless, along with her leaving the promotion in Might 2022.
She then took to the world of influencer boxing, preventing for the Misfits Promotion, taking up fellow Onlyfans influencer, Elle Brooke. The 2 girls fought to a cut up draw, with Brooke dropping VanZant early on within the battle.
THE STAGE IS SET 🤩
Elle Brooke vs. Paige Paige VanZant goes down Might 25, Dwell on DAZN 🎆 pic.twitter.com/DrdG1eex8R
— MF & DAZN X Sequence (@MF_DAZNXSeries) April 20, 2024
VanZant even made the transient enterprise into the world of aggressive slapping, competing for Dana White’s Powerslap in June and October 2024. She gained her first outing earlier than drawing her second. She appeared to benefit from the competitors component of it, taking to Instagram to state, “That is the life 😍. @powerslap”.
What does the Return of Paige VanZant seem like?
There’s a good probability that Paige VanZant will do effectively on her return to MMA. She’s actually a recognisable identify and face throughout the sport, as a consequence of her UFC push early in her profession. She’s proficient, nonetheless, there are questions as to how critically she takes the game.
The one girls signed to the GFL’s flyweight division alongside VanZant as of the time of writing are Chiara Penco, Miao Ding and Karolina Owczarz.
Penco is 9-5, Ding is 18-8 and Owczarz is simply 5-3. This speaks volumes as to the kind of rivals that GFL has managed to signal within the flyweight division. VanZant, due to this fact has a superb probability to shine within the division.
As she acknowledged on her podcast, she didn’t ever fall out of affection with MMA, nonetheless, she’s actually been constructing different companies throughout her time away from the octagon. We’ll have to attend and see how she performs when she makes the stroll, nonetheless, there’s potential there.
