Personal Information
Full Name | Paige Michelle Vanderford |
Date of Birth | March 26, 1994 |
Nationality | American |
Height | 5'4" |
Paige VanZant: A Brief Biography
Paige "12 Gauge" VanZant is a former UFC Flyweight fighter with a professional MMA record of 8-wins and 5-losses. Paige currently competes in BKFC, where she has a professional record of 0-wins and 2-losses. VanZant also has a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
- Early Life and Career
- Paige VanZant UFC
- Paige VanZant BKFC
- Paige VanZant Career Stats
- Paige VanZant Last Fight
- Paige Vanzant Record
Early Life and Career
Paige VanZant started her combat sports journey when she started training in boxing and other martial arts.
VanZant made her amateur MMA debut in April 2012 at URC 32 against Morgan Hunter. She won the fight inside the first minute via rear-naked-choke submission. Following this, Paige turned professional in June 2012 against Jordan Nicole Gaza at the UWF: Tournament of the Warriors: Finale. Paige won the fight via a close split decision. She followed it up with a victory over Amber Stautzenberger before fighting at Invicta FC 4 against Tecia Torres. Paige lost the fight via unanimous decision but bounced back with a Technical Submission victory over Courtney Himes at BCP: Cage Warriors 15.
Following this fight, Paige joined the UFC as an announced participant in the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter. Later, she was removed from the show before it started due to her being 20 and the minimum participant age being 21 years.
Paige VanZant UFC
Paige VanZant made her UFC debut at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson against Kailin Curran. VanZant dominated Curran and won the fight via 3rd round TKO(punches). Following this win, Paige signed with Reebok.
Paige fought her next fight at UFC on Fox 15 against Felice Herrig. She out grappled Herrig to win via unanimous decision. She then won her next fight against Alex Chambers via 3rd round armbar submission before fighting Rose Namajunas.
Namajunas outclassed VanZant in the fight and handed her the first defeat in the UFC. She bounced back in her next fight as she fought Bec Rawlings and KO'ed her in the second round.
Paige then got her first main-event fight as she fought Michelle Waterson at UFC Fight Night 80 -Namajunas vs. VanZant. Waterson outgunned VanZant and defeated her in the first round via rear-naked choke submission.
Following this loss, Paige went down to Flyweight and fought Jessica Rose-Clark at UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi. Paige lost the fight via unanimous decision as she broke her hand in the second round. Due to this, she couldn't outmaneuver Clark.
After a year's hiatus, Paige returned to the UFC at UFC Fight Night 143: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw against Rachael Ostovich. She defeated Ostovich via second-round armbar submission.
After a 19-month hiatus, she returned to the UFC at UFC 251 against Amanda Ribas. Ribas got the better of Paige and defeated her in the first round via armbar submission.
This was VanZant's last fight for the UFC as she left the promotion to join BKFC(Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) in August 2020.
Paige VanZant BKFC
Paige Vanzant made her BKFC debut at BKFC Knucklemania against Britain Hart. VanZant looked to clinch in the fight whereas. Hart looked to outbox as she dominated the match in the first 4-rounds due to her straight punch combos. VanZant made a comeback in the fifth round. She forced Hart on the defense but was unable to knock her out. Due to this, Paige lost the fight via unanimous decision.
In her second BKFC fight, Paige fought Rachel Ostovich, who she had previously defeated in the UFC. VanZant was unable to match Ostovich in aggression and adaptability during the fight as Ostovich won round 1 despite both fighters investing heavily into power punches. Round 2 went in VanZant's favor as she began to control the fight range via her jabs. Ostovich adapted to the jab and started countering it with overhand rights. The fight almost ended in the fourth round when Rachel rocked VanZant but failed to finish the job. Paige won the last round but could not force Ostovich into a vulnerable situation and knock her out.
In the end, Rachel won the fight via unanimous decision(49-46, 48-47, 48-47) to hand VanZant, her second consecutive loss in the BKFC.
Paige VanZant Career Stats
Current Status:
Paige VanZant's current MMA record stands at 8-5 and BKFC record stands at 0-2. She is currently on a 2-fight losing streak in BKFC.
Win-Loss-Draw:
MMA
Matches | Wins | Losses | Draws |
13 | 8 | 5 | 0 |
BKFC
Matches | Wins | Losses | Draws |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Wins by KO/TKO:
- 2
Wins by Submission:
- 3
Wins by Decision:
- 3
Current Titles:
- None
Reach:
- 65.5 in (165cm)
Weight:
- 125 lb / 56 kg
Weight Class:
- Flyweight
Paige VanZant Last Fight
Paige VanZant's last fight was a bare-knuckle fight against Rachel Ostovich at BKFC 19. VanZant lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Paige Vanzant Record
Below is the professional MMA and BKFC record of Paige VanZant:
BKFC
Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date |
Loss | 0-2 | Rachael Ostovich | Decision (unanimous) | BKFC 19 | 23/07/2021 |
Loss | 0-1 | Britain Hart | Decision (unanimous) | BKFC Knucklemania | 05/02/2021 |
MMA
Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date |
Loss | 8-5 | Amanda Ribas | UFC 251 | Submission (Armbar) | 11/07/2020 |
Win | 8-4 | Rachael Ostovich | UFC Fight Night 143: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw | Submission (Armbar) | 19/01/2019 |
Loss | 7-4 | Jessica-Rose Clark | UFC Fight Night 124: Stephens vs. Choi | Decision (Unanimous) | 14/01/2018 |
Loss | 7-3 | Michelle Waterson | UFC on Fox 22: VanZant vs. Waterson | Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 17/12/2016 |
Win | 7-2 | Bec Rawlings | UFC on Fox 21: Maia vs. Condit | KO (Head Kick and Punches) | 27/08/2016 |
Loss | 6-2 | Rose Namajunas | UFC Fight Night 80: Namajunas vs. VanZant | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 10/12/2015 |
Win | 6-1 | Alex Chambers | UFC 191 | Submission (Armbar) | 05/09/2015 |
Win | 5-1 | Felice Herrig | UFC on Fox 15: Machida vs. Rockhold | Decision (Unanimous) | 18/04/2015 |
Win | 4-1 | Kailin Curran | UFC Fight Night 57: Edgar vs. Swanson | TKO (Punches) | 22/11/2014 |
Win | 3-1 | Courtney Himes | BCP: Cage Wars 15 | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | 06/04/2013 |
Loss | 2-1 | Tecia Torres | Invicta FC 4 | Decision (Unanimous) | 05/01/2013 |
Win | 2-0 | Amber Stautzenberger | TPFP: Premier Fight Series 2 | Decision (Unanimous) | 22/09/2012 |
Win | 1-0 | Jordan Nicole Gaza | UWF: Tournament of Warriors Finale | Decision (Split) | 30/06/2012 |