Paige VanZant, a notable competitor in mixed martial arts, is featured on her page following a recent Instagram post. The post presents a video selfie in which VanZant wears a white ensemble adorned with rhinestones and decorative headpieces, capturing a moment of polish and stage-ready style that matches her public persona as a fighter and entertainer.
VanZant began her MMA career on June 30, 2012, securing a victory over American fighter Jordan Nicole Gaza via a split decision. This early win showcased her speed, technical striking, and willingness to engage in close-quarters exchanges, setting the stage for a rising athlete in the sport. Over time, she developed a diverse skill set that blends Brazilian jiu-jitsu fundamentals with taekwondo-inspired striking, allowing her to adapt to different opponents and fight environments.
Her career continued in the Absolute Fighting Championship, where she made her presence felt on September 5, 2015. In that bout, she faced Alex Chambers and secured the win with an armbar midway through the third round, demonstrating her submission prowess and grip on control when the fight reached the ground. That victory marked a key moment in her trajectory, illustrating her ability to transition between striking and grappling effectively and to finish fights with submission techniques when opportunities arose.
VanZant’s UFC journey culminated in a bout on July 12, 2020, when she faced Brazilian standout Amanda Ribas. VanZant was unable to secure a win and faced defeat, a result that reflected the high level of competition in the promotion and the evolving challenges she faced at the elite level. Across her mixed martial arts record, she has accumulated eight wins and five losses, a tally that reflects both the experiments with different fighting styles and the resilience required to compete across multiple major platforms over several years.
Following her UFC chapter, VanZant signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on August 12, 2020, signaling a shift toward a different discipline within the combat sports landscape. Bare-knuckle bouts emphasize striking and footwork in a different dynamic, pushing athletes to adapt their conditioning, defense, and endurance. In a separate ring from traditional MMA, she continued to pursue competitive opportunities and showcase her athletic versatility. On May 26, 2024, VanZant participated in a boxing match against Ally Brooke, with the judges delivering a draw, a result that added another layer to her sporting résumé by proving her aptitude in a distinct combat sport with its own strategic demands.
In related sports history, there have been other notable athletes from different disciplines, such as a Russian figure skater previously noted for a performance described as figure-dressed in a tight swimsuit, illustrating how public interest often spans across varied athletic spheres and media narratives.