The UFC alumni turned BKFC fighter, Paige VanZant recently announced, that she accepted a next fight. However, this time she will not fight under nether bare-knuckle or mixed martial arts rules. During her podcast, VanZant announced that she would be making her boxing debut.
“I got called by my manager day before yesterday, and I got offered a fight. “A boxing match, and I took it. I don’t know if I can give all the details, I haven’t signed a contract yet. I accepted the fight.”
Then she recalled the entire situation without giving a name of a potential opponent, or promotion that will host the bout. As for now, the only thing known is a potential month, when the fight could happen – May or June.
“It was initially, the date they offered me was March 23, which was perfect. Hell yeah, I’ll get one more fight in before I turn 30, because I turn 30 [on] March 26. So I told my manager f*** yeah, I’ll take it. I’ll get back into boxing. I was just really excited. The opportunity was really cool. So it was perfect, eight-week camp, I don’t that long to stress or overthink, or anything like that, so that’s perfect. It turns out it’s not going to be March 23. After I accepted it, they’re like, you know what, we’re going to move it to. I heard both dates, so once I have the full information, we’ll be able to release it on the podcast. Accepted a boxing match, that will be my next fight. It’s really, really exciting.”
Initially, VanZant was expecting to make her BKFC return, but the chance of putting on boxing gloves was too good for her to give it up.
“Gloves on, it’s just straight boxing. I did think my next fight would be a bare-knuckle boxing match, but this opportunity came forward, and I was just like f*** it, let’s go. So took a fight.”
It won’t be the first time when the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship allows for their athletes to compete outside of the promotion. Most recently Mike Perry serves as a backup fighter for a Logan Paul vs. Dillion Danis bout. They’ve also allowed Michael “Venom” Page, then contracted Bellator fighter, to fight Perry at BKFC 27: London. VanZant still is contractually obligated to compete in BKFC, but as for now, she will make her professional boxing debut.
Paige VanZant started her professional fighting career by training in Ken’s Shamrock gym in Las Vegas, Nevada. She made her professional MMA debut back in 2012 and stacked up a 3 – 1 record on the regional scene.
In December 2013 she was signed as part of 11 women’s group by the UFC. The goal was to initiate a new women’s strawweight division. VanZant also was scheduled to be a cast member of the upcoming TUF season to partake in a tournament to crown an initial champion. However, she was rejected due to being 20 years old. All this was due to alcohol presence in the fighters’ house.
She made her promotional back in November 2014 and since then won only five of her nine fights inside the octagon.
She left the UFC in July 2020 and in August signed with the BKFC. VanZant suffered two decision losses inside the BKFC’s circle ring. She was supposed to make her return in 2022, but two proposed fights were canceled.
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