BKFC Future For Paige VanZant Is Apparently “Up In The Air”
From the sounds of it, Paige VanZant has some decisions to make regarding her career in combat sports. After leaving the UFC for a massive payday in BKFC, or Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, expectations were sky-high for the 27-year-old. But an 0-2 start to her BKFC career, dropping unanimous decisions to Britian Hart and Rachael Ostovich, has VanZant apparently contemplating a move back to MMA which has her status with BKFC up in the air. VanZant still has fights remaining on her contract.
Full quote via MMAFighting.com:
“We spoke to her management team and honestly it’s up in the air,” Feldman told on Tuesday. “We’re not 100 percent sure she’ll be back with BKFC. It looks like she will but at the end of the day, if her heart and her passion is she wants to give MMA another shot, we may give her that opportunity. I’m not here to hold anybody back.
“I’m actually flying down to Miami tomorrow, we’re going to have a conversation with her management team tomorrow and finalize that and see where that ends up.”
From the sounds of it, Dave Feldman, President of BKFC, remains confident that something will get worked out between them and VanZant but does acknowledge that they will do what is best for her in this situation, no matter the outcome.
“We’d love to have her back,” Feldman said. “But at the end of the day, if her heart’s not in it — and I’m not saying that it’s not — but if her heart’s not in it, and she wants to try something else, who are we to stop her from advancing her career or trying something else new with her career?
“‘Cause we thought we could give her a great opportunity and we did and she’s been great to work with. We’ll know a lot more after this week. I’d love to put her on the KnuckleMania card again as well. So we’ll see what happens with that this week.”
Say what you will about Paige VanZant and either her decision to leave the UFC or her abilities in boxing within BKFC, but she knows her worth and how to market herself very well. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt no matter what decision she makes in regards to her future in combat sports, her following will stay with her and give that support no matter where she ends up next.
Check out our Linktree to view all of our wonderful sponsors as well as our socials!
