Paige VanZant

About Paige VanZant

Paige VanZant was born in Dundee, Oregon, but grew up in nearby Dayton, where her parents operated a dance studio. She dedicated over 13 years to mastering ballet, jazz, and hip hop. In her teenage years, she featured in a Bissell mop advertisement and was often described as a tomboy, enjoying outdoor activities like dirt biking and fishing. During high school, she faced bullying, particularly regarding her last name, Sletten, which was mockingly altered to "Slutton" by peers. This led her to legally adopt the surname VanZant, inspired by one of her mother's dance students, as she found it more appealing. Reflecting on her past, she credits these experiences with shaping her passion for martial arts and the skills involved in self-defense.

After relocating to Sparks, Nevada, VanZant sought a dance studio but discovered the gym of UFC veteran Ken Shamrock, where she began her training in boxing and various martial arts. She made her professional MMA debut on June 30, 2012, at the UWF's Tournament of Warriors finale in Texas, achieving victory over Jordan Nicole Gaza by split decision. She continued to win at Premier Fight Series 2 on September 22, 2012, defeating Amber Stautzenberger via unanimous decision.

VanZant lost to Tecia Torres at Invicta FC 4 on January 5, 2013, but her career took a significant turn in December 2013 when she was among the 11 women signed by the UFC for the new Strawweight division. Although she was initially slated to appear on The Ultimate Fighter television series, she was unable to compete due to being only 20 years old, as the minimum age requirement was 21. After a bout with injuries, she finally made her UFC debut against Kailin Curran on October 4, 2014, winning by TKO in the third round and earning Fight of the Night honors.

As her popularity grew, VanZant secured a sponsorship with Reebok in February 2015, which sparked some debate about whether her appeal was based solely on her looks. UFC president Dana White defended her selection for the deal, citing her unique personality and charisma. In subsequent fights, she bested Felice Herrig and Alex Chambers, but faced setbacks against Rose Namajunas and Michelle Waterson, the latter resulting in her losing by submission.

Switching to the Flyweight division in August 2017, injuries again sidelined her, delaying her return until 2018, when she fought Jessica Rose-Clark but lost due to a broken arm sustained during the match. After a year away from the sport, she returned to achieve victory over Rachael Ostovich at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw, but continued to struggle with injuries, pulling out of scheduled bouts and eventually losing to Amanda Ribas at UFC 251.

In August 2020, she signed a remarkably lucrative four