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Former UFC and BKFC star Paige VanZant has announced a surprising move in her fighting career, revealing on her podcast that she has accepted a boxing match offer. While details about her opponent and the promotion are yet to be disclosed, VanZant shared her excitement, stating that the bout is expected to take place in May or June.
VanZant expressed her initial expectation to return to bare-knuckle boxing, given her lucrative deal with BKFC. However, the intriguing offer for a straight boxing match proved too enticing for her to decline.
"I did think my next fight would be a bare-knuckle boxing match, but this opportunity came forward, and I was just like f*** it, let’s go. So took a fight," she explained.
The unexpected shift to boxing showcases VanZant's willingness to embrace new challenges and explore different facets of combat sports. Despite having remaining fights on her BKFC contract, her decision reflects the flexibility typically allowed by the organization for athletes to pursue various opportunities.
In addition to VanZant's decision, her husband Austin Vanderford made headlines by negotiating his release from Bellator MMA with one fight remaining on his contract. While he is yet to book his next fight, Vanderford expressed his desire to secure a spot on the same card as his wife and outlined his long-term goal of earning a place on the UFC roster.
Vanderford stated,
"When I set out to fight, I always viewed the UFC as the No. 1 spot."
His pursuit aligns with the couple's shared ambition of making an impact on the biggest stages of combat sports. As the details unfold, fans anticipate witnessing the VanZant-Vanderford duo carve new chapters in their respective careers.