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Tom Taylor

The last year has not been easy for Paige VanZant, but things are looking up.
The fan favourite UFC strawweight and flyweight contender has not fought since she defeated Rachael Ostovich in January of 2019, having been sidelined by four arm injuries. Thankfully, she’s finally healthy again.
“This was the worst and most monotonous process,” VanZant told the Post days after her cast was cut off. “The first few times I broke it, I had to have surgery. This time I didn’t, but I had an over-the-elbow cast for almost eight weeks.
“It feels good to have my arm back.”




















View this post on Instagram



















CAST IS OFF 100%!!!! LET’S FREAKING GO!!!! Training is in full effect (in my garage with my husband) lol First thing first, let’s heal the world, after that I’m coming to fight.
A post shared by Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant) on Mar 23, 2020 at 4:12pm PDT



While VanZant is thrilled to be cast-free, it’s difficult to ignore the unfortunate timing of her recovery, with the world shutting down to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ever a wellspring of positivity, VanZant isn’t letting the situation get her down. She’s training at home with her husband, Bellator middleweight contender Austin Vanderford, and is keen to fight as soon as possible once the crisis subsides.
UFC 249: Ferguson wants McGregor as Khabib replacement
When it comes to the weight class and opponent for that fight, she’s not picky.
“I’m good at 115 [pounds], and I’m good at 125,” she said. “I’m kind of an inbetweener. The cut to 115 is tough for me, but I’m a bit small for 125. So it’s whatever the UFC offers me. I just want to tell them ‘offer me the biggest fight, the best fight that you can see me in, whether it be at 125 or 115’.
“I would love to fight someone in the rankings, somebody coming off a win, somebody higher ranked than me – that would be awesome,” she said. “I just want to go out there and make a statement.”




















View this post on Instagram



















How did I do @thenotoriousmma ??
A post shared by Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant) on Mar 29, 2020 at 5:14pm PDT



VanZant speaks often of her urge to make a statement. It’s easy to understand why.
Her next fight will mark the final obligation on her UFC contract and she plans on exploring her options as a free agent thereafter.
“I want to prove my worth,” VanZant said. “You truly can’t find what your value is until you’re a free agent. When you’re locked into a contract, the only people that can set your value are the people that you’re signed with.”




















View this post on Instagram



















Bad to the bone.
A post shared by Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant) on Mar 16, 2020 at 1:49pm PDT



Despite her stretch of inactivity, VanZant remains one of the bigger names in the sport and will no doubt be a hot commodity.
“Change is very hard, but I’m looking for the best opportunity for my future and I don’t know what that is,” she said. “I think it’s going to take negotiation with the UFC and negotiations with other organisations to know who’s going to offer me the brighter future. It might come down to other factors outside just a dollar figure. It’s really about who’s going to propel me to the best of their ability.
“There could be a few factors behind that,” she said. “I do well in fighting. I do well in Hollywood. I do well in all kinds of ventures that come my way. A lot of it will be about who’s going to open those doors for me.”




















View this post on Instagram



















When he interrupts your suntanning because he needs a spot...... #quarantine #245
A post shared by Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant) on Mar 17, 2020 at 2:09pm PDT



It’s easy to imagine promotions like Bellator and One Championship opening those doors for VanZant. That being said, she’s optimistic she will be able to strike a new deal with the UFC.
“There’s a lot of amazing organisations out there,” VanZant said. “If there wasn’t, I would never be testing free agency.
“I do honestly have a really good relationship with the UFC. I appreciate everything they’ve done for me. The hard thing is, other than my compensation, I am very happy with the UFC. So it’s not going to be as crazy as a negotiation process as a lot of people think. There’s a lot to talk about, but I think it’s going to be a fairly easy conversation.”




















View this post on Instagram



















Don’t be a lady, be a legend.
A post shared by Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant) on Feb 26, 2020 at 11:47am PST



Whatever the case, VanZant is confident the best is yet to come.
“This is a reminder to all the organisations, I’m only 26,” she said. “This is a reminder to all the fans and all the other fighters that I’m not going anywhere. There’s this conversation that I would have a short career, that Hollywood would be calling my name. Of course they are, but as a fighter, my passion is to compete, and that’s what I’m going to do until that passion is no longer there.
“I’m 100 per cent confident [I’ll become a champion],” she added. “I’ve been in this sport for like 10 years now. I’ve been training and being competitive and I still have at least another 10 years left. I know how determined I am, and I know the God-given talent I’ve been blessed with, and I’m not going to quit until I fulfil everything God’s given me.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC’s Paige VanZant hopes to sign new contract but is eager to prove her worth in MMA free agency

Paige VanZant is looking to put a series on arm injuries behind her. Photo: Instagram

UFC 249: Conor McGregor says ‘I’m in shape to fight right now’ after Khabib ‘chickened out’ vs Tony Ferguson amid coronavirus crisis

Conor McGregor waits for the start of his welterweight bout against Donald Cerrone at UFC246. Photo: AFP

UFC 249: Tony Ferguson says Khabib should be stripped of lightweight title after dropping out of fight

Tony Ferguson interacts with media during the UFC 249 press conference at T-Mobile Arena. Photos: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC 249: Khabib rails at fans criticising him for self-quarantining instead of fighting Tony Ferguson

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is seemingly out of UFC 249. Photo: Amy Kaplan

UFC 249: should Dana White pull the plug on Khabib vs Tony Ferguson or hold out for Conor McGregor?

Conor Mcgregor stepping in for Khabib Nurmagomedov was a great April Fool’s joke ... or is it to be taken seriously? Photo: AP

Russian UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov speaks after wining against UFC fighter Dustin Poirier, of Lafayette, La., during Lightweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 242, in Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday , Sept.7 2019. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Khaled)

MMA - UFC 242 - Khabib Nurmagomedov v Dustin Poirier - Men's UFC Lightweight title - Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - September 7, 2019 Khabib Nurmagomedov reacts after winning his match against Dustin Poirier REUTERS/Christopher Pike

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


VanZant says looming contract decision might not just come down to ‘a dollar figure’
‘I do well in fighting, in Hollywood, in all kinds of ventures ... who’s going to open those doors for me?’



Paige VanZant says UFC contract decision might not just come down to a ‘dollar figure’ as she hopes to prove her worth in and out of the cage – ‘who’s going to open those doors for me?’


Paige VanZant

UFC’s Paige VanZant hopes to sign new contract but is eager to prove her worth in MMA free agency

VanZant says looming contract decision might not just come down to ‘a dollar figure’ ‘I do well in fighting, in Hollywood, in all kinds of ventures ... who’s going to open those doors for me?’

VanZant says looming contract decision might not just come down to ‘a dollar figure’

‘I do well in fighting, in Hollywood, in all kinds of ventures ... who’s going to open those doors for me?’