Paige VanZant recently revealed that she will return to the sport of MMA. VanZant has not fought in an MMA-rules match since July 2020, where she lost via submission to Amanda Ribas. However, this isn’t really about her fighting record.
PVZ is not in the fight game anymore; she is in the marketing game and this latest opportunity to compete is a great way for her to continue to push her brand. Simultaneously, it will possibly help her sell subscriptions to her exclusive content.
’12 Gauge’ revealed on her A Kickass Love Story podcast (via MMAWeekly) that she had signed a deal with the new MMA promotion Global Fight League. Every free agent with a brand name will feature in the promotion, and signing PVZ remains lucrative for their women’s division.
Paige VanZant’s outside the cage ventures
I am in no way trying to disrespect VanZant when I say that this is a marketing tactic. Getting into MMA, and then managing to record wins at the top level in the UFC means that she is a legitimate combat athlete. Since leaving UFC back in 2020, VanZant has competed for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, Misfits Boxing and PowerSlap, which is a very different route to take than a of other fighters have taken.
Paige VanZant in combat sports (Image via TMZ/Power Slap/AEW)Throughout that time, VanZant has continued to sell subscriptions to her exclusive content platforms. With this, she appears to have made her a huge amount of money. PVZ’s fans have come from her brand getting exposure in the biggest way possible. When she could no longer fight in the UFC, she took the biggest offer going in BKFC, then Misfits Boxing and Power Slap.
Most “legitimate” fighters (and she is a legitimate fighter) would possibly take the route into BKFC and it work out really well (see: Mike Perry), but beyond that? It’s taken a very different turn.
Misfits Boxing
PVZ fighting Elle Brooke on a Misfits Boxing card was certainly not something that you could’ve predicted back when she defeated Rachael Ostovich in 2019. Brooke has proven that she can fight, but the idea of VanZant fighting an influencer boxer, who is more known for her own exclusive content platforms would’ve been baffling at that point.
But fast forward to May 2024 and that is exactly what PVZ did. You could outwardly ask exactly why the ex-UFC star took the chance facing someone like Brooke, because there was absolutely zero upside to her fight career. Her losing means she lost to an influencer boxer, or win and you’ve only beaten an influencer boxer.
Paige VanZant after losing at BKFC (Image via Bad Left Hook)This fight wasn’t designed to get her back into the upper echelons of combat sport. It was a way to get her, and her exclusive content brand, in front of different eyeballs in a bout with one of Britain’s biggest exclusive content names.
There is nothing wrong with that at all. PVZ got offered a lot of money to do the fight; she took it and her brand was bigger. Did it help her fight career? No, but like I said it wasn’t designed to.
AEW appearances
The move into pro wrestling seemed fairly logical because there are a lot of former combat sports fighters who have gone on to have successful careers in the squared circle. It worked massively for Ronda Rousey and Ken Shamrock. It’s working for Valerie Loureda, and it’s worked well for Shayna Baszler as well
Paige VanZant in AEW (Image via AEW)Having said that, PVZ did not take to pro wrestling like these other names. In truth, it was mainly another opportunity for her to get her brand in front of another different audience. She didn’t wrestle all that much and was presented as an attraction.
Power Slap competitor
I highly, highly doubt that any former UFC fighters, who were at the level PVZ was before she left to BKFC, will head to Power Slap. Unfortunately, this seemed to reek a little of desperation, and I’m sorry to say it, but there is absolutely zero merit in Power Slap as a combat sport. NONE.
Paige VanZant in Power Slap (Image via Instagram)You can’t tell me that two people hitting each other in the face, unprotected, is a legitimate form of combat sport. Boxing is a sweet science and the key is to score points on your opponent. Yes, there are knockouts, but these aren’t performed on someone who isn’t trying to defend themselves.
Bare Knuckle Boxing is slightly different because it is more barbaric. Nevertheless, you’re still able to at least TRY and protect yourself from a fist flying at your face.
Global Fight League
The new team-based Global Fight League (which launches in April) could end up being a hit amongst MMA fans. Will it compete with the UFC, PFL or ONE? Probably not in the early stages, but I hope that it becomes a viable alternative for fighters who can’t compete at the top level anymore.
Paige VanZant appearing in GFL (MMA promotion) is another opportunity for her to showcase her brand to an audience. Yes, this audience is probably already aware of her. However, this isn’t going to be a genuine attempt to get her to the top of the fight game again.
Paige VanZant joins GFL alongside ex-UFC fighters (Image via Pinterest/GFL/MMA Fighting)When you see the flag for her exclusive content site behind her before a fight (I won’t mention it here because I don’t like doing free advertising), then you’ll see what I mean. And you know what? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Get that Bag PVZ, but this isn’t going to be resurgence of the once massively hyped superstar Dana White was hoping to get a decade ago.
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