it is common for parents to tell their children not to fight. What they fail to say is that if you’re really good at it, you can make a career out of beating people for the sport. This is the case of Paige VanZant, American martial artist, author and former model, who became famous for the myriad of victories recorded as a fighter.
the biography
Paige VanZant was born on the 26th day of March 1994 in Dundee, Oregon. Although born in Dundee, she was brought up in Dayton. Her parents owned a dance studio, which allowed her to learn ballet, jazz and hip-hop for over 13 years. As a teenager, Paige appeared in a commercial for a mop, an experience that served her well during her television appearances on Dancing with the Stars and Chopped.
Considered a tomboy and a lover of the outdoors. As a child, she was fond of snowmobiling and fishing. She joins the ranks of celebrities who were bullied in high school, an experience that inspired her to become a martial artist, learning to defend herself in the process.
You could say it was already written in the stars for Paige to become a martial arts fighter. Spending years in her parents’ dance studio had incorporated into her the body movement abilities that all great fighters possess. So when Paige VanZant moved with her family to Sparks, Nevada, she found UFC veteran Ken Shamrock’s gym while looking for a dance studio; it was preparation for the meeting of fate. It was at her gym that she began training in boxing and other martial arts.
Career
After winning an amateur fight at age 18, Paige Vanzant made her professional MMA debut on June 30 , 2012 at the UWF Football TournamentThe Warriors Finals against Jordan Nicole Gaza in Corpus Christi, Texas, winning her first combat by a shared decision. In her second fight against Amber Stautzenberger at Premier Fight Series 2, she was won by unanimous decision.
His first loss was between Tecia Torres and Invicta FC 4. The event took place at Memorial Hall in Kansas City on January 5th , 2013. However, his talent was recognized as his fighting style was admired by many athletes. Generally known for her aggressive attacks that seek to finish off strikes, her style includes ground and pound, dirty boxing, and a wide variety of hollow body strikes. In addition to her striking, Paige VanZant also has a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
She has had a great career so far. In December 2013, the athlete was named as one of 11 women signed by the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) for its new division, the Strawweight division.
In August 2014, her first fight in the strawweight division was announced and she was supposed to face Kailin Curran on October 4th , 2014 in Halifax. Unfortunately, fate had other plans as she suffered a back injury which forced the fight to be postponed.
The fight was worth the wait for the young fighter who marked his UFC debut by beating Curran by third-round TKO, in a fight that earned fight of the night honors. The win brought fame and fans to her doorstep. In February 2015, Paige signed a sponsorship deal with Reebok. A deal that sparked controversy as she had only had one UFC fight at a time.
Paige VanZant’s rise in the UFC continues as she won her next two fights, one by unanimous decision and the other via armbar submission in the third round. Her first loss in the UFC came against Rose Namajunas, who defeated her via fifth-round submission. She ultimately finished 12th in her run in the strawweight division.
In August 2017, the fierce fighter moved to the Flyweight division. After some setbacks due to injury and illness, she fought first on January 14th , 2018, where she lost to JessicaRose -Clark after breaking her arm in the first round, making it his fourth loss in professional career. Considering that she is still young, the future is still very bright for her career.
Who is the fiancé, boyfriend or husband?
Paige VanZant is engaged to fellow fighter, Austin Vanderford, a professional MMA fighter and a two-time NAIA All-American and National Champion wrestler. The two got engaged in January 2018, and given their shared professions, they seem like a perfect match. Austin, who had his first amateur fight in 2015, made his professional debut in 2017.
Paige VanZant’s net worth
Although young, she quickly rose to fame in the professional fighting world. She became an official UFC fighter in 2014, receives $20,000 per fight and has signed a few sponsorship deals. Paige has also written a book about her past and her rise to fame. She is currently worth $3.5 million.