What Happened to Paige Michelle VanZant?
Paige VanZant is an American mixed martial artist, bare-knuckle boxer, professional wrestler, and model who gained significant fame in the UFC before diversifying her career. After leaving the UFC in 2020, she transitioned to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, All Elite Wrestling, Misfits Boxing, and Power Slap, while also achieving substantial financial success through her OnlyFans content. As of May 2026, she is recovering from a serious neck injury sustained in 2025, which has put her combat sports career on hiatus, though she remains active on social media and with her content platform.
Quick Answer
Paige VanZant, a former UFC star, has diversified her career since leaving the promotion in 2020, engaging in bare-knuckle boxing, professional wrestling with AEW, influencer boxing, and slap fighting. She has found significant financial success through her OnlyFans platform, which she has stated is her primary income stream. As of May 2026, her combat sports career is on hold due to a serious neck injury (spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma) suffered in 2025, which forced her to withdraw from a Power Slap title fight. She remains active on social media and continues to produce content for OnlyFans.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Born Paige Michelle Sletten
Paige Michelle Sletten, later known as Paige VanZant, was born in Dundee, Oregon, U.S.
Professional MMA Debut
VanZant made her professional mixed martial arts debut at the age of 18.
UFC Debut
She made her Ultimate Fighting Championship debut at 20 years old.
Married Austin Vanderford
Paige VanZant married fellow professional MMA fighter Austin Vanderford.
Last UFC Fight
VanZant fought her last bout in the UFC against Amanda Ribas at UFC 251, losing via submission. She subsequently became a free agent.
Signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC)
VanZant signed a lucrative four-bout contract with BKFC, reportedly worth over $1 million, marking a significant career pivot.
BKFC Debut
She made her Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut against Britain Hart at Knucklemania I, losing via unanimous decision.
Signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW)
VanZant signed a long-term deal with AEW, appearing as part of American Top Team.
Joined OnlyFans
After initially having her own subscription site, VanZant officially joined OnlyFans, which quickly became her primary income source.
Separated from Austin Vanderford
Paige VanZant and Austin Vanderford announced their separation.
Misfits Boxing Debut
VanZant made her professional boxing debut with Misfits Boxing against Elle Brooke, resulting in a split draw.
AEW Profile Removed
After two years of inactivity, VanZant's profile was removed from the AEW website roster page, indicating her departure.
Signed with Global Fight League (GFL)
VanZant announced her return to MMA by signing with the new Global Fight League, though all GFL events were later cancelled indefinitely.
Withdrew from Power Slap Title Fight due to Neck Injury
VanZant was scheduled to rematch Mikael-Michelle Brown for the inaugural Power Slap Flyweight Championship but pulled out due to a serious neck injury (spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma).
Latest Social Media Activity
VanZant posted a new bikini carousel on Instagram, continuing her active social media presence.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Paige VanZant, born Paige Michelle Sletten on March 26, 1994, rose to prominence as a mixed martial artist in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she competed in the strawweight and flyweight divisions. She made her professional MMA debut in 2012 and her UFC debut at age 20. Known for her aggressive fighting style and marketable personality, VanZant quickly became a fan favorite. However, she often expressed dissatisfaction with her UFC pay, stating that she made more money from social media endorsements than from fighting.
This desire for better compensation and new opportunities led to a significant career shift. After her final UFC fight in July 2020, a submission loss to Amanda Ribas, VanZant became a free agent. She subsequently signed a lucrative four-bout contract with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) in August 2020, reportedly worth over $1 million. Her BKFC debut in February 2021 against Britain Hart garnered considerable attention, though she lost via unanimous decision, followed by another unanimous decision loss to Rachael Ostovich in July 2021.
Beyond bare-knuckle boxing, VanZant explored other combat sports and entertainment ventures. In March 2022, she signed a long-term deal with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), making her in-ring debut in May 2022. However, her wrestling career with AEW did not fully materialize, and her profile was quietly removed from the AEW roster page by June 2024, signifying her departure. She also made her professional boxing debut with Misfits Boxing in May 2024, fighting Elle Brooke to a split draw, and entered the world of slap fighting with Power Slap, securing a win in June 2024 and another in March 2025.
A pivotal development in VanZant's career has been her success on OnlyFans. After initially launching an independent subscription site in 2021, she moved to OnlyFans in September 2022. She has openly stated that OnlyFans became her primary income stream, claiming in a September 2023 interview that she made more money in 24 hours on the platform than in her entire fighting career combined. This financial independence has allowed her to pursue diverse interests without solely relying on fight purses.
In January 2025, VanZant announced her return to mixed martial arts, signing with the Global Fight League (GFL), a new team-based promotion. She was scheduled for an MMA debut in May 2025, but all GFL events were subsequently cancelled indefinitely. A significant setback occurred in June 2025 when VanZant suffered a serious neck injury, described as a 'one-in-a-million' spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma, forcing her to withdraw from a scheduled Power Slap title rematch. This injury has led to a de facto hiatus from active competition. As of May 17, 2026, VanZant is recovering from this injury and continues to maintain a strong presence on social media, including recent bikini posts in May 2026, while OnlyFans remains her primary source of income. She also separated from her husband, fellow MMA fighter Austin Vanderford, in 2022 and is currently single.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Paige Michelle VanZant made different choices?