Paige VanZant is certainly one of the most popular female fighters in the world today. Besides being an MMA fighter, she has tried her hands in bare-knuckle boxing in the promotion, BKFC.
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But she rose to fame in UFC, where she competed for a few years. Even though Paige didn't win a title during her time there, she was still a known face of the women's division. Along with fighting, Paige VanZant has done some other things like getting the mainstream spotlight through TV shows and modeling. While fans know about Paige's fighting career, below are some lesser-known facts about her.
9 Legally Changed Her Last Name
Paige VanZant's last name might sound Dutch, but she wasn't born as VanZant. Her birth surname was completely different, and she legally changed it due to excessive bullying in high school.
Paige's actual surname was Sletten. When she was in high school, she was derided by her peers, as other students called her 'slu*tton'. Consequently, she legally changed it to VanZant, which was the surname of her mother's student. Additionally, bullying was actually the primary reason she decided to become a fighter.
8 She Is 27 Years Old
Ken Shamrock, the UFC legend, spotted VanZant, and then she started training MMA. She made her debut at the age of 18 in 2012. This was arguably the perfect age for her to get into the business, as her body could quickly adapt to the needs of a mixed martial artist.
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Paige was born in 1994, and she is currently 27 years old. Given how young she is, she can certainly continue her fighting career for many years, as long as she is able to remain healthy.
7 Fought In 2 Divisions In UFC
It is certainly a great achievement for fighters who are brave enough to fight in different weight classes to prove themselves. Paige VanZant is one such name to fight in two different weight classes of the women's division.
First, Paige fought in the Strawweight division in UFC. After being there for nearly four years, she moved to the Flyweight division. Unfortunately, her performance and record weren't good in the Flyweight division before leaving UFC.
6 She Is 5'4"
Despite fighting in two different weight classes, Paige VanZant isn't very tall. She stands at 5 feet and 4 inches, which is an average height for most female fighters in UFC. She is the same height as the likes of Amanda Ribas and Jessica Rose Clark.
Paige VanZant weighs around 125 pounds, but it fluctuates depending on her weight cut. She has a reach of 165 cm, which also puts her in the overall average for women with her build.
5 Made An Appearance In The Professional Wrestling World
It's quite common for MMA fighters or boxers to step foot in the world of professional wrestling. In fact, MMA fighters like Shayna Baszler, Ronda Rousey, and Matt Riddle have switched careers to be professional wrestlers.
Paige VanZant has already made her presence felt by appearing in the world of pro wrestling. She appeared on AEW Dynamite as well as AEW Rampage. Only time will tell if she will become a full-time pro wrestler because she has the look and athletism to succeed in the squared circle.
4 She Has A Dancing Background
Besides being a fighter, Paige VanZant has a dancing background. During her childhood, VanZant's parents had a dance studio, and she learned different forms of dances there. For the first few years of her life, VanZant mastered hip hop, jazz and ballet. With such a great dance background, VanZant participated in the popular dance reality show, Dancing With The Stars. She was in Season 22 of the show, and she coupled up with Mark Ballas. She ended up being the runner-up.
Paige VanZant is also passionate about shooting and hunting - her father has given her the nickname, '12 Gauge', which is a shotgun.
3 She Was The Winner Of The Show 'Chopped'
Other than Dancing With The Stars, Paige VanZant was in another reality show called Chopped. She participated in that cooking show with other renowned athletes and did a great job.
After beating former Olympic gold medalist figure skater, Dorothy Hamill, VanZant became the winner of the 2017 season of Chopped. It is safe to say that VanZant is a woman of many talents.
2 Her Fighting Record
With a long career, Paige VanZant has had her fair share of success. Out of her 13 pro bouts, she has won 8 and lost 5. She has fought 9 of those matches in UFC, so most of her fighting career has been spent in Dana White's company.
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But her bare-knuckle boxing record is quite disappointing. VanZant has fought in two bare-knuckle fights in 2021, and she has lost both of her matches. It wouldn't be surprising to see her go back to MMA.
1 She Is Married To Austin Vanderford
Paige VanZant is currently married to fellow MMA and Bellator fighter, Austin Vanderford. The duo started dating back in 2017, and they got engaged in January 2018. They tied the knot in the same year in September.
VanZant dated the former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt in 2015, but they broke up within a year. She also reportedly dated dancer Alan Bersten when she was on Dancing With The Stars.
