Paige VanZant
Paige VanZant – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes
Paige VanZant is an American mixed martial artist, bare-knuckle boxer, model, and media personality. Discover her inspiring life story, career trajectory, key achievements, and some of her most memorable quotes.
Introduction
Paige VanZant (born March 26, 1994) is a multifaceted American athlete and media personality known primarily for her career in mixed martial arts, but also for forays into bare-knuckle boxing, professional wrestling, modeling, and television. Her journey—from dance studios in Oregon to global fight arenas—reflects resilience, versatility, and a willingness to reinvent herself. Today, her narrative resonates with fans of combat sports, reality TV, and personal branding.
In this article, we explore her early life and family, the ups and downs of her athletic career, her public persona and influence beyond the cage, her most famous quotes, and the lessons we can draw from her life.
Early Life and Family
Paige Michelle VanZant was born on March 26, 1994, in Dundee, Oregon, and was raised near Portland.
Though she was trained in dance, Paige described herself as a “tomboy” growing up. She loved outdoor activities such as riding dirt bikes, fishing, and exploring nature — interests more commonly associated with rugged sport than dance.
In middle and high school, Paige faced serious challenges: she was sexually assaulted as a teenager and was the target of repeated bullying, particularly over her birth surname “Sletten.”
These early adversities left deep impressions. She has cited her experiences with bullying and assault as part of her motivation for learning martial arts—to protect herself and to regain agency.
Youth and Education
While her family’s dance studio gave Paige a solid artistic foundation, she gravitated toward competition and athleticism in her teen years. She participated in cheerleading in high school, but later remarked:
“I used to be a cheerleader, but fighting just seemed more ‘me.’”
Her exposure to martial arts began more formally when her father encouraged her to try a gym class associated with MMA veteran Ken Shamrock. According to her accounts, she fell in love with training from the first day.
She made her amateur mixed martial arts debut at age 18, winning by submission, and soon transitioned into professional MMA fights.
Paige has also spoken about the sacrifices she made: she left school and certain promising opportunities behind to focus entirely on pursuing fighting success.
Career and Achievements
Her professional career can be mapped across several arenas: MMA (especially in the UFC), bare-knuckle boxing, professional wrestling, and crossover combat sports.
Mixed Martial Arts & the UFC
Paige signed with the UFC and competed in both the strawweight and flyweight divisions.
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She made her UFC debut in October 2014, defeating Kailin Curran via TKO in the third round. That fight earned her the “Fight of the Night” bonus.
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Her fighting style includes aggressive grappling, ground-and-pound, clinch striking, and striking combinations, often pushing the pace and applying pressure.
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She holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
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Among her honors: UFC Performance of the Night (against Bec Rawlings), and MMAJunkie’s Submission of the Month.
Her time in the UFC wasn’t without setbacks. She suffered injuries—broken arm, back issues—and in mixed-weight bouts she had losses via decision or submissions.
In her final UFC bout (in 2020), she lost to Amanda Ribas via armbar submission.
Transition to Bare-Knuckle & Crossover Fighting
In August 2020, Paige signed an exclusive contract with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
While her BKFC run included losses, she earned a Fight of the Night honor there too.
More recently, she has expanded into other combat-sport formats:
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Misfits Boxing (2024): In May 2024, Paige made her professional boxing debut under the Misfits Boxing banner, facing Elle Brooke. The match ended in a split draw.
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Power Slap (2024–Present): She made her slap-fighting debut in June 2024 and won her first bout by unanimous decision.
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She had planned a rematch for a title in Power Slap scheduled for June 2025, but withdrew due to a serious neck injury (spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma), with potential risk of paralysis.
Additionally, in early 2025 she signed with the Global Fight League, an MMA promotion, though events were later canceled.
Media, Television & Modeling
Paige has also pursued avenues outside fighting:
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She competed on Dancing With the Stars (season 22) in 2016 and finished in second place.
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She participated in the Food Network’s Chopped in 2017, where she won a celebrity episode.
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She authored a memoir titled Rise: Surviving the Fight of My Life, published in April 2018, detailing personal struggles, bullying, and her fight career.
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Paige has modeled for major brands like Nike and Columbia Sportswear.
Awards & Honors (Summary)
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Fight of the Night (UFC)
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Performance of the Night (UFC)
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MMAJunkie’s Submission of the Month
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Fight of the Night (BKFC)
While she may not hold championship belts in the major combat sports, her versatility, high-profile fights, and crossover presence have secured her a prominent place in popular culture.
Historical Milestones & Context
Paige’s career has unfolded during a dynamic era for women in combat sports. When she entered the UFC, women’s divisions were gaining broader recognition, and female fighters were pushing barriers in a male-dominated domain. Her willingness to take high-risk, high-visibility fights amplified her appeal beyond traditional MMA audiences.
Her ventures into bare-knuckle, boxing, and slap fighting echo a broader trend of hybrid and entertainment-driven combat formats aiming to blur lines between sport, spectacle, and influencer culture.
Another milestone: her public discussions about mental health, assault, and bullying brought important conversations about trauma, resilience, and identity into athletic spheres that often shy away from vulnerability.
Her pivot to content creation (e.g. OnlyFans) and branding signals a shift in how modern athletes manage their careers: balancing sponsored content, fighting, media, and personal monetization. In recent interviews, she has described fighting more as a “hobby” and placed emphasis on her business and brand ventures.
Legacy and Influence
Paige VanZant’s legacy lies less in title belts and more in her symbolic impact as a boundary-pushing athlete who refuses to be confined by any single label. She demonstrated that fighters can be media personalities, models, authors, and entrepreneurs all at once.
For young women interested in combat sports, she represents a figure who openly discusses her mental health struggles, trauma, and recovery. Her transparency has contributed to de-stigmatizing certain conversations in fighting communities.
She also exemplifies the modern athlete’s need to diversify revenue and identity beyond just performance. In doing so, she underscores that athletic careers can evolve, morph, and coexist with other ventures.
Her cross-disciplinary presence—from reality TV to social media to fighting—makes her more than just a fighter: she’s a brand and a story in motion.
Personality and Talents
Paige is often described as tenacious, bold, emotionally honest, and unapologetically herself. Her early years of bullying and trauma shaped a drive to reclaim control, and that inner fire translates into her fighting style and public persona.
Her dance training (13+ years) provided agility, balance, body awareness, and discipline—skills she credits for helping her transition to combat sports.
She is also known to be adaptable and curious: willing to try new fight formats, media platforms, and business models. Her quotes reflect both humility and ambition—a mix of knowing her vulnerabilities and striving for excellence.
Famous Quotes of Paige VanZant
Here are some notable quotes attributed to Paige VanZant:
“I strictly want to beat every opponent I face, whether it’s for a title or for a small show. The only thing for me is winning my fights and being the best athlete I can be.”
“I was in culinary school for a little while, but it was just too hard to cut weight and cook at the same time.”
“If I wasn’t a fighter, I wouldn’t be unique.”
“I used to be a cheerleader, but fighting just seemed more, ‘me.’”
“Sunday, I go to church; I take the day off. I rest.”
“I have so many other talents other than fighting, and I would love to be able to show those off.”
“I gave up school. I gave up a really, really good job. I gave up a lot of stuff. I cut a lot of people out of my life so I could just focus on my fighting dreams.”
“I’ve been blessed; I’ve been getting so many amazing opportunities because of the UFC. I know there are going to be haters no matter how successful I am, and I just have to be thankful for all the blessings that I have because all of it can be over before you know it.”
These sayings reflect her mindset about training, identity, sacrifice, and gratitude.
Lessons from Paige VanZant
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Resilience through adversity — Facing bullying, assault, and identity crises, Paige turned trauma into motivation rather than letting it define her.
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Reinvention is power — She refuses to remain static: shifting between fighting formats, media, and business.
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Sacrifice is part of pursuit — She gave up education, relationships, and “comforts” to chase her vision.
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Voice and vulnerability matter — Sharing her struggles allowed connection with people beyond fight fans.
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Diversification of self — Her identity is not tied to wins and losses; she cultivates multiple roles beyond athlete.
Conclusion
Paige VanZant’s life is a tapestry of contrasts: dancer and fighter, survivor and competitor, media star and athlete. Her journey from Oregon dance studios to fighting cages, wrestling rings, and social media platforms shows how modern public figures are no longer confined to a single domain.
Her quotes echo determination, sacrifice, and authenticity. Her legacy is far from finished—but she already stands as an example of someone who transforms adversity into opportunity, who refuses a single label, and who teaches us that success is not only the titles we win, but the truths we live.
If you’d like a deeper dive into her fight record, her recent ventures, or a breakdown of specific bouts, I’d be happy to share more.