Paige VanZant has announced that she will return to MMA in 2025.
’12 Gauge’ made her name in the UFC after being snapped up by MMA’s premier promotion in 2014.
The 30-year-old quickly became one of the most popular fighters on the roster due to a combination of her fighting style, good looks, and endearing personality.
However, after a 5-4 run in Dana White‘s league, which included a spectacular head kick knockout win over Bec Rawlings, Paige VanZant decided to spread her wings by leaving the UFC in 2020.
Paige VanZant confirms MMA return
Paige VanZant is the latest fighter to sign with the newly formed Global Fight League [GFL].
Already confirmed for the GFL roster are former UFC champions Tyron Woodley, Luke Rockhold, Benson Henderson, Anthony Pettis, Andrei Arlovski, Frank Mir, Fabricio Werdum, and Junior dos Santos.
Other GFL stars include Wanderlei Silva, Alex Gustafsson, Hector Lombard, Thiago Santos, Kevin Lee, Jeremy Stephens, Marlon Moraes, Gegard Mousasi, Greg Hardy, Robelis Despaigne, Bubba Jenkins, Tanner Boser, Philipe Lins, and Will Brooks.
There’s been a mixed response to the GFL announcement, with fans praising the new team-based model and pay structure but criticizing the focus on signing former UFC stars, with many of them in their forties.
VanZant began her latest ‘Paige and Austin: A Kickass Love Story’ podcast by announcing she is a GFL fighter.
“I need to be in the gym harder and stronger than ever,” she said.
“I’m changing gears again. I’m going to shock the world again.
“I’m lucky I’m in such a good position that I do get a lot of opportunities that I get to wade through and pick what kind of sparks my interest the most and what’s the most exciting.
“Yeah, I think that I’m stepping back into the world of MMA.
“They offered me a contract and I said, ‘Yes’. So, I’m going back to MMA, and I think this is the perfect opportunity because I definitely didn’t leave MMA because I wasn’t passionate about it anymore.
“Now there’s this new MMA organization that actually made me really excited to fight for them. They are legit paying their athletes. Everyone that I’ve heard that has negotiated their contracts so far is extremely excited and happy.
“They’re doing a pension fund for the fighters, and I think health insurance… You just never know when it’s over, so I wanna do everything I can to make the most money while I can, and be able to provide for my family forever.”
Paige VanZant’s post-UFC career
Since leaving the UFC, Paige VanZant has tested herself in several new sports with mixed results.
First, she signed a lucrative deal to join Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship before Conor McGregor became a co-owner of the fledging combat sports promotion that is about to launch a $25million tournament.
VanZant suffered back-to-back decision defeats in bare-knuckle before putting on the gloves for a boxing bout with adult film star Elle Brooke, who shocked the world by scoring a knockdown when they fought to a split draw last May.
Next, VanZant transitioned to slap fighting and reunited with Dana White as she fought for Power Slap.
A win in her debut snapped a long losing streak before VanZant fought to a draw in her second slap fight.
The plan is to take another Power Slap bout in February and then return to MMA two months later.
VanZant’s GFL debut opponent remains a mystery, but the ex-UFC star claims she will return to the sport that made her famous in April.
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