Paige VanZant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paige VanZant |
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VanZant in 2019
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| Born | Paige Michelle Sletten March 26, 1994 Dundee, Oregon, U.S. |
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| Other names | Paige Vanderford | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||
| Division | Strawweight (2012–2017) Flyweight (2017–present) |
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| Reach | 65 in (165 cm) | ||||||||||||||
| Fighting out of | Coconut Creek, Florida | ||||||||||||||
| Team | Team Alpha Male (2013–2017) Team Quest (2017–2019) American Top Team Portland (2017–2020) American Top Team Miami (2020–present) |
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| Trainer | Pedro Diaz (boxing) | ||||||||||||||
| Rank | Purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Fabiano Scherner | ||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2012–present | ||||||||||||||
| Professional boxing record | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Draws | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 13 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| By submission | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| By decision | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Losses | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| By submission | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| By decision | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Amateur record | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Wins | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| By submission | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Austin Vanderford
(m. 2018) |
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Paige Michelle VanZant (born March 26, 1994) is an American athlete. She is known for her skills in mixed martial arts, bare-knuckle boxing, and professional wrestling. VanZant has also appeared on popular TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and Chopped.
Contents
Early life and background
Paige VanZant was born in Dundee, Oregon, and grew up in Sherwood, Oregon, near Portland. Her parents owned a dance studio, and she spent over 13 years learning different dance styles such as ballet, jazz, and hip hop.
As a teenager, she appeared in a commercial for a mop brand. Paige was a tomboy growing up and loved being outdoors. Her favorite hobbies included riding dirt bikes and fishing. In high school, she faced bullying, which led her to legally change her last name from Sletten to VanZant. She chose "VanZant" because she liked the sound of it. This experience made her appreciate being able to defend herself through martial arts.
Martial arts journey
Starting her career
After her family moved to Sparks, Nevada, Paige looked for a dance studio. Instead, she found a gym owned by UFC veteran Ken Shamrock. There, she began training in boxing and other martial arts.
Paige won her first amateur fight at age 18. She then made her professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut on June 30, 2012. She won this fight by a split decision. Later that year, she won another fight by unanimous decision.
In January 2013, VanZant faced Tecia Torres at Invicta FC 4. She lost this fight by a unanimous decision.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (2013–2020)
Fighting in the Strawweight division
In December 2013, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced that Paige VanZant was one of 11 women joining their new Strawweight division. She was also supposed to be on The Ultimate Fighter, a TV reality series. However, she was too young to compete on the show, as the minimum age was 21.
In August 2014, the UFC announced Paige would fight Kailin Curran. After a back injury, the fight was rescheduled. Paige made her UFC debut on November 22, 2014. She defeated Curran by TKO in the third round. This fight was even named "Fight of the Night."
After her first UFC win, Paige became very popular. In February 2015, she signed a sponsorship deal with Reebok. Some people wondered why she got the deal with only one UFC fight. UFC president Dana White said she had a special "it" factor and personality.
Paige fought Felice Herrig on April 18, 2015. She won this fight by unanimous decision. On September 5, 2015, she faced Alex Chambers at UFC 191. Paige won by armbar submission in the third round.
She signed a new contract with UFC in September 2015. Paige was set to headline a fight against Joanne Calderwood in December 2015. However, Calderwood was replaced by Rose Namajunas. Paige lost this fight by submission in the fifth round.
After appearing on Dancing with the Stars, Paige returned to fight Bec Rawlings on August 27, 2016. She won the fight by knockout in the second round with a flying head kick. This win earned her a "Performance of the Night" bonus.
In her next fight, Paige faced Michelle Waterson on December 17, 2016. She lost this fight by technical submission in the first round. She finished her time in the strawweight division ranked No. 12.
Moving to the Flyweight division
In August 2017, Paige moved to the 125-pound flyweight division. She was scheduled to fight Jessica Eye in October. However, Paige had to pull out due to a back injury and other health issues.
Paige's flyweight debut happened on January 14, 2018, against Jessica Rose-Clark. She broke her arm in the second round but continued fighting. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.
After a year away due to her broken arm, Paige faced Rachael Ostovich on January 19, 2019. She won the fight by armbar submission in the second round.
Paige was briefly set to fight Poliana Botelho in April 2019. However, she announced she would not compete due to another fractured right arm. She later needed surgery for her arm.
Paige was scheduled to fight Amanda Ribas on March 14, 2020. She had to pull out again because she fractured her right arm for the third time. The fight with Ribas was rescheduled and took place on July 12, 2020. Paige lost the fight by submission in the first round.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (2020–present)
In August 2020, Paige VanZant signed a four-fight contract with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. This deal was reportedly worth over $1 million.
She made her debut for the promotion on February 5, 2021, against Britain Hart. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Paige faced Rachael Ostovich again on July 23, 2021. She had previously defeated Ostovich in MMA. This time, Paige lost the bare-knuckle fight by unanimous decision. This fight earned her the "Fight of the Night" award. After this loss, Paige said she was interested in returning to MMA.
Other fighting sports
Professional boxing
On April 19, 2024, it was announced that Paige VanZant would make her professional boxing debut. She fought Elle Brooke on May 25, 2024, in Houston, Texas. The fight ended in a split draw.
Slap fighting
Paige VanZant made her slap fighting debut at Power Slap 8 on June 28, 2024. She won the bout by unanimous decision. She had another slap fighting match on October 24, 2024, which ended in a draw. On March 7, 2025, she won her third slap fighting match by unanimous decision.
Fighting style
Paige VanZant is known for her aggressive fighting style. She often tries to get close to her opponents to grapple them. Her style includes ground-and-pound, which means hitting opponents while on the ground. She also uses knees, elbows, and punches when fighting close to the cage.
Paige is known for constantly putting pressure on her opponents. If an opponent gets away from her, she quickly tries to close the distance again. She uses high kicks and punches when fighting from a distance. Her dance background helps her perform flexible and agile moves. For example, she knocked out Bec Rawlings with a jumping switch kick.
Paige VanZant also holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Professional wrestling career
On September 15, 2021, Paige VanZant made her first appearance in professional wrestling with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). She appeared on their Dynamite show. The next week, she attacked Chris Jericho.
On February 2, 2022, she attacked Brandi Rhodes on Dynamite. On March 4, AEW announced that VanZant would sign with the company. She appeared on Dynamite again on March 9, 2022, and attacked Tay Conti. After the match, VanZant signed her AEW contract.
Paige made her in-ring debut at Double or Nothing on May 29, 2022. She teamed with Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky and her team won the match. Paige last appeared for AEW in May 2022. Her profile was removed from the AEW website on June 3, 2024, meaning she officially left the company.
TV appearances
Dancing with the Stars
On March 8, 2016, Paige VanZant was announced as a celebrity contestant on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars. She partnered with professional dancer Mark Ballas. The couple made it to the finals and finished in second place.
| Week # | Dance/Song | Judges' score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inaba | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Foxtrot / "Ain't Got Far to Go" | 7 | 7 | 7 | No Elimination |
| 21 | Salsa / "Danza Kuduro" | 8 | 8 | 8 | Safe |
| 3 | Paso Doble / "300 Violin Orchestra" | 8 | 7 | 8 | Safe |
| 4 | Quickstep / "You've Got a Friend in Me" | 9 | 9/92 | 9 | Safe |
| 53 | Rumba / "Perfect" | 8 | 8/74 | 8 | No Elimination |
| 6 | Jazz / "Soul Bossa Nova" | 9 | 10 | 9 | Last to be called safe |
| 7 | Jive / "Proud Mary" Team Freestyle / "End of Time", "If I Were a Boy" & "Crazy in Love" |
10 8 |
10 8 |
10 9 |
Safe |
| 8 | Viennese Waltz / "Stone Cold" Team-up Dance (Paso Doble) / "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" |
10 95 |
9 10 |
9 10 |
Safe |
| 9 Semi-finals |
Trio Samba / "Hip Hip Chin Chin" Argentine Tango / "One Time" |
10 10 |
10 9 |
10 10 |
Last to be called safe |
| 10 Finals |
Salsa / "Fireball" Freestyle / "Over the Rainbow" Salsa & Jive Fusion / "Little Bitty Pretty One" |
10 10 10 |
9 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
Runner-Up |
1 For this week, VanZant performed with troupe member Alan Bersten due to Ballas suffering a back injury during rehearsals.
2 Score given by guest judge Zendaya.
3 For this week only, as part of "America's Switch Up", VanZant performed with Sasha Farber instead of Ballas. Ballas performed with Ginger Zee.
4 Score given by guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
5 Due to Inaba being the judge coaching VanZant's team during the team-up dance, the viewers scored the dance in her place with the average score being counted alongside the remaining judges.
Chopped
On March 3, 2017, Paige was one of 16 celebrities in a cooking competition on the Food Network TV series Chopped. She was in the "Star Power: Culinary Muscle" episode. Paige won the competition, becoming the "Chopped" winner.
Her book
Paige VanZant released her biography, Rise: Surviving the Fight of My Life, on April 10, 2018. The book shares her journey to fame, including her fights, personal challenges, and her time on Dancing with the Stars.
Personal life
Paige's father nicknamed her "12 Gauge" because she loves shooting and hunting. She has also modeled for brands like Nike and Columbia Sportswear.
In September 2018, Paige married Austin Vanderford, who is also a professional MMA fighter. They started dating in 2017.
Awards and achievements
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Kailin Curran
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Bec Rawlings
- UFC.com Awards
- 2014: Ranked #10 Newcomer of the Year (Tied with Henry Cejudo & Carla Esparza)
- MMAjunkie.com
- 2019 January Submission of the Month vs. Rachael Ostovich
Bare-knuckle boxing
- Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Rachael Ostovich
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 13 matches | 8 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 0 |
| By submission | 3 | 3 |
| By decision | 3 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 8–5 | Amanda Ribas | Submission (armbar) | UFC 251 | July 12, 2020 | 1 | 2:21 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 8–4 | Rachael Ostovich | Submission (armbar) | UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw | January 19, 2019 | 2 | 1:50 | Brooklyn, New York, United States | |
| Loss | 7–4 | Jessica-Rose Clark | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi | January 14, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | Flyweight debut. |
| Loss | 7–3 | Michelle Waterson | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on Fox: VanZant vs. Waterson | December 17, 2016 | 1 | 3:21 | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 | Bec Rawlings | KO (head kick and punches) | UFC on Fox: Maia vs. Condit | August 27, 2016 | 2 | 0:17 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 6–2 | Rose Namajunas | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. VanZant | December 10, 2015 | 5 | 2:25 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Alex Chambers | Submission (armbar) | UFC 191 | September 5, 2015 | 3 | 1:01 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 5–1 | Felice Herrig | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Machida vs. Rockhold | April 18, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Kailin Curran | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson | November 22, 2014 | 3 | 2:54 | Austin, Texas, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 3–1 | Courtney Himes | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bush Cree Promotions: Cage Wars 15 | April 6, 2013 | 1 | 2:21 | Grand Junction, Colorado, United States | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Tecia Torres | Decision (unanimous) | Invicta FC 4 | January 5, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Amber Stautzenberger | Decision (unanimous) | Premier Fight Series 2 | September 22, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Fort Worth, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Jordan Nicole Gaza | Decision (split) | Ultimate Warrior Fighting: Tournament of The Warriors Finale | June 30, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Corpus Christi, Texas, United States | Strawweight debut. |
- Amateur record
| Amateur record breakdown | ||
| 1 match | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Morgan Hunter | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Ultimate Reno Combat 32 | April 13, 2012 | 1 | 0:50 | Reno, Nevada, United States |
Bare-knuckle boxing record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 2 matches | 0 wins | 2 losses |
| By decision | 0 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–2 | Rachael Ostovich | Decision (unanimous) | BKFC 19 | July 23, 2021 | 5 | 2:00 | Tampa, Florida, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 0–1 | Britain Hart | Decision (unanimous) | BKFC Knucklemania | February 5, 2021 | 5 | 2:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | Bare-knuckle boxing debut. |
Professional boxing record
| 1 fight | 0 wins | 0 losses |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Elle Brooke | SD | 5 | May 25, 2024 | NRG Arena, Houston, Texas, US | Professional boxing debut. For MFB women's middleweight title. |
Slap fighting record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 3 matches | 2 wins | 0 losses |
| By decision | 2 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 2–0–1 | Mikael-Michelle Brown | Decision (unanimous) | Power Slap 12 | March 7, 2025 | 3 | N/A | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Draw | 1–0–1 | Chelsea Dodson | Draw (unanimous) | Power Slap 9 | October 24, 2024 | 3 | N/A | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 1–0 | Christine Wolmarans | Decision (unanimous) | Power Slap 8 | June 28, 2024 | 3 | N/A | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Slap fighting debut. |
Images for kids
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Paige VanZant in 2019
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Paige VanZant in 2012
See also
In Spanish: Paige VanZant para niños
