Paige VanZant’s Bold Transition: From UFC Fighter to OnlyFans Phenomenon
Paige VanZant, the former UFC flyweight, made a bold career shift that defied conventional wisdom and expectations. VanZant’s journey through the fighting world has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, marked by her determination to forge her own path.
VanZant’s tenure in the UFC, which began when she was just 19, saw her participate in nine fights over six years. Her final UFC appearance was at UFC 251 in 2020, where she faced a submission defeat to Amanda Ribas. Despite this loss, the UFC saw value in VanZant and offered her a contract to continue fighting under their banner. However, VanZant, feeling unfulfilled, chose to venture into uncharted territory.
“I was ready for the next chapter,” VanZant explained in an interview with MMA Fighting. She described her decision to leave the UFC not as an act of ill will but as a pursuit for something different, something more.
VanZant surprised the fighting world by signing with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). At the time, BKFC was still striving for mainstream acceptance, with bare-knuckle fighting legal in only a few states. VanZant saw this as an opportunity for a new challenge, not just financially rewarding but also a test of her mettle as a fighter. “It’s a whole different animal. It’s violent and brutal, and it feels different,” she reflected on her experience in BKFC.
Parallel to her fighting career, VanZant ventured into the digital world, launching her own website and joining OnlyFans. This move proved to be financially lucrative, with VanZant revealing she made more in one day on OnlyFans than in her entire UFC career. Despite initial reservations from her management, VanZant’s decision to join OnlyFans was supported by her new management team, led by Malki Kawa of First Round Management. This decision, as she recalls, changed her life and assured her that taking risks was worth it.
Today, VanZant enjoys financial independence, focusing on building her brand and promoting her passions. She remains open to fighting, expressing interest in returning to BKFC and possibly taking up an MMA fight with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), praising their treatment of athletes and expressing enthusiasm for her commentary work with them.
VanZant’s journey is a testament to the power of self-belief and the courage to defy expectations. Her story continues to inspire and reminds us that sometimes, the path less traveled can lead to the most rewarding destinations.
