Paige VanZant News
Paige Vanzant shoots down ever fighting for the UFC again: "They don't pay enough"
Josh Evanoff - March 23, 2022
Paige Vanzant doesn’t sound keen on ever returning to the UFC. ’12 Gauge’ signed to the promotion in 2013, for the newly-created strawweight division. She quickly became one of the faces of 115-pounds and one of the top stars in the promotion.
Former UFC and BKFC fighter Paige VanZant signs contract with AEW
Harry Kettle - March 10, 2022
Former UFC and BKFC fighter Paige VanZant has officially completed her transition over to professional wrestling with AEW. Paige VanZant has always been one of the most popular figures in women’s MMA ever since her debut for the UFC back in 2014. Since then she’s had a series of ups and downs in the sport, with her UFC tenure ending with a submission loss to Amanda Ribas at UFC 251 – leaving her pro record at 8-5.
Sean Strickland applauds Paige VanZant for “paying the bills” after Gegard Mousasi “napped her wife” Austin Vanderford
Josh Evanoff - February 28, 2022
Sean Strickland has praised Paige VanZant following her husband’s defeat to Gegard Mousasi. Last Saturday at Bellator 275, Austin Vanderford got mauled in his bid for promotional gold. Gegard Mousasi knocked his American foe out in less than two minutes, and once again showed why he’s one of the greatest fighters on the planet. Now, following that loss, Paige VanZant has shown support to her husband.
Austin Vanderford issues statement following TKO loss to Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 275
Chris Taylor - February 26, 2022
Austin Vanderford has issued a statement following his 85-second TKO loss to Gegard Mousasi last night at Bellator 275. After starting his mixed martial arts career with eleven straight wins, five of which came under the Bellator banner, Vanderford was given the opportunity to fight for middleweight gold.
Paige VanZant will return early next year in final fight of BKFC contract, says president David Feldman
Cole Shelton - October 26, 2021
Paige VanZant will indeed fight out the final fight of her Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship contract. VanZant surprised many and signed with BKFC last year and came up short in her debut to Britain Hart. She then dropped a decision to Rachael Ostovich in her second fight and after the fight, BKFC president, David Feldman said he wasn’t sure if VanZant would fight the final fight of her deal.
BKFC President Dave Feldman confirms the future of Paige VanZant is “up in the air”
Adam D Martin - September 30, 2021
BKFC President Dave Feldman confirmed that the future of women’s fighter Paige VanZant is “up in the air” following two straight losses. VanZant signed a lucrative free-agent contract with BKFC last year after her UFC contract expired, but so far, things have not gone to plan for her. VanZant began her BKFC career with a decision loss to Britain Hart earlier this year, before losing to Rachael Ostovich in her second BKFC fight. It now looks like with those two losses that VanZant believes that her heart might not be in the BKFC game and she is considering going back to MMA.
Paige VanZant says she'd 'love to fight for Bellator'
Cole Shelton - September 22, 2021
Paige VanZant turned down a chance to fight for Bellator to sign with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship but she admits she’d love to fight for Bellator. VanZant has gone 0-2 in BKFC and her next fight could be do-or-die for her career with the sans gloves promotion. She says she only has one fight left on her deal and after that, she is open to signing with Bellator.
Paige VanZant told Austin Vanderford she "didn’t want to live anymore" following loss at BKFC 19
Chris Taylor - August 14, 2021
Paige VanZant (8-5 MMA, 0-2 BKF) was in a dark place following her loss to Rachael Ostovich at last months BKFC 19 event. The former UFC standouts, VanZant and Ostovich, collided for a second time on July 23, this after ‘PVZ’ had earned a submission victory in the pairs first encounter.
Paige VanZant reacts after losing BKFC fight to Rachael Ostovich: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"
Adam D Martin - July 26, 2021
Paige VanZant reacted after losing her BKFC fight to rival Rachael Ostovich, saying that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” VanZant lost a unanimous decision to Ostovich in their rematch that headlined this past weekend’s BKFC 19 card in Tampa, Florida. Although VanZant was the betting favorite heading into the fight, Ostovich surprised a lot of onlookers as she showed improved boxing as she was able to outstrike VanZant and take home the decision on the judges’ scorecards. The rivals are now 1-1 overall in their all-time series, with VanZant holding a previous win over Ostovich by submission in the UFC. With Ostovich now beating VanZant in their rematch in BKFC, it’s possible we could see a trilogy fight between them one day.
Rachael Ostovich reacts after beating Paige VanZant at BKFC 19: "I had so much fun"
Adam Martin - July 25, 2021
Former UFC fighter-turned-bare knuckle boxer Rachael Ostovich reacted after beating Paige VanZant at BKFC 19, saying “I had so much fun.” Ostovich was the betting underdog against VanZant but she pulled off the upset when she won a unanimous decision over her former UFC rival in what was Ostovich’s bare-knuckle boxing debut. Ostovich and VanZant previously fought in the Octagon at UFC on ESPN+1: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw in January 2019, with VanZant winning the fight by submission. With VanZant having already experienced a BKFC fight when she lost to Britain Hart earlier this year, the oddsmakers and the betting public felt that PVZ should be favored to beat Ostovich, but the Hawaiian proved the doubters wrong as she took home the decision.
Paige VanZant sends a message to the haters following her loss at BKFC 19
Chris Taylor - July 24, 2021
Paige VanZant has addressed the haters following her unanimous decision loss to Rachael Ostovich at last night’s BKFC 19 event. VanZant and Ostovich collided for a second time on Friday evening, this after ‘PVZ’ had earned a submission victory in the pairs first encounter under the UFC banner in 2019.
Paige VanZant issues statement following loss to Rachael Ostovich at BKFC 19
Christopher Taylor - July 23, 2021
Paige VanZant has issued a statement following her loss to Rachael Ostovich in tonight’s BKFC 19 headliner. VanZant and Ostovich collide for a second time this evening, this after ‘PVZ’ had earned a submission victory in the pairs first encounter under the UFC banner in 2019.
BKFC 19: 'VanZant vs. Ostovich 2' Live Results and Highlights
Chris Taylor - July 23, 2021
Former UFC fighters Paige VanZant and Rachel Ostovish will square off for a second time in the headliner of tonight’s BKFC 19 event. VanZant and Ostovich initially collided under the UFC banner in January of 2019, with ’12 Gauge’ emerging victorious by way of submission (armbar).
Paige VanZant promises fans they will see a "brand new fighter" at BKFC 19
Adam D Martin - July 23, 2021
Former UFC women’s flyweight and current bare-knuckle fighter Paige VanZant promises fans they will see a “brand new fighter” at BKFC 19. VanZant takes on former MMA rival Rachael Ostovich in a rematch Friday night at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. The two women previously met in the UFC in January 2019, with VanZant winning the fight via submission. Now that the rematch will take place in BKFC, there will be no submission finish this time around as the fight will be taking place entirely on the feet and not on the ground. For VanZant, this will be her second BKFC contest, while for Ostovich this is the first time she has fought bare-knuckle.
Rachael Ostovich explains decision to rematch Paige VanZant in BKFC: “Money talks”
Harry Kettle - July 22, 2021
Former UFC fighter Rachael Ostovich has explained her decision to take on former foe Paige VanZant in BKFC. While VanZant has already made an appearance in the promotion, Ostovich is set to step into the ring for the first time tomorrow night when she takes on PVZ in a rematch of their January 2019 bout in the UFC. It’ll mark the first combat appearance for Ostovich since losing to Gina Mazany back in November 2020, after which she was released from her UFC contract.
Paige VanZant has no regrets about leaving the UFC for BKFC: "It was the best decision I’ve ever made"
Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021
Women’s combat sports superstar Paige VanZant has no regrets about leaving the UFC for BKFC, calling it “the best decision I’ve ever made.” VanZant competed in MMA from 2012 to 2020, and between 2014 and 2020 she fought exclusively for the UFC, where she went 4-5 overall. After becoming a free agent last summer, VanZant decided to take her talents to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Although she lost a decision to Britain Hart in her BKFC debut, VanZant has already been booked for her next fight, a rematch with her former UFC opponent Rachael Ostovich.
Paige VanZant, Rachael Ostovich react after rematch booked in BKFC
Adam D Martin - May 28, 2021
Women’s bare-knuckle fighters Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich reacted after their rematch was officially booked in BKFC. BKFC announced this week that the VanZant vs. Ostovich rematch will take place on July 23 at BKFC 19. It’s a rematch of the pair’s fight at UFC on ESPN+ 1 in January 2019, which VanZant won via second-round tapout. This time around, the two will meet in the BKFC ring with no grappling involved. It’s a striking-only fight and considering the popularity of both women, it figures to be one of the biggest fights that BKFC will hold this summer.
Paige VanZant vs. Rachael Ostovich 2 headlines BKFC 19 in July
Cole Shelton - May 27, 2021
Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich are running things back, but this time will do it sans gloves. VanZant and Ostovich first met back in January of 2019 on the first ESPN+ show in Brooklyn. The fight makes VanZant’s return after a year layoff and she got back into the win column with a second-round submission win. Since then, both have parted ways with the UFC and signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and they have now agreed to rematch one another at BKFC 19 on July 23 the promotion announced.