Paige VanZant has had a change of heart it seems. The former UFC fighter will make a return to mixed martial arts after all.
During a recent edition of her podcast, A Kickass Love Story, with husband Austin Vanderford, VanZant made the announcement. She will enter into the 2025 GFL season, a new promotion kicking off this year.
Related: GFL Roster Loaded With Former UFC Champs! Can They Compete With UFC in 2025?
“They are picking up anybody and everybody who has a name in this sport,” VanZant said (thanks to MMA Fighting for the quotes). “They offered me a contract and I said yes.”
Previously, VanZant had stated she had no desire to fight MMA rules again. Since departing from the UFC, she has completed in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, Misfits Boxing and Dana White’s Power Slap.
The 30-year-old went 5-4 during a nine-fight UFC run, losing three of her last four. She will be competing MMA for the first time in almost five years when she does return.
Paige VanZant Returning To MMA With New Promotion
VanZant joins the likes of Frank Mir, Gegard Mousasi, Anthony Pettis and Benson Henderson. Among the women on the roster include Tonya Evinger, Pannie Kianzad, Viviane Pereira and Bi Nguyen.
“I think this is the perfect opportunity,” VanZant said. “Now there’s this new MMA promotion organization that actually made me really excited to fight for them. I didn’t leave MMA because I wasn’t passionate about it. When I became a free agent, the biggest offer that came in was (BKFC). They presented the best offer and it was exciting, it was new and it sparked my interest.”
Read more: New Competitor To UFC Reveals Official Roster, Features 8 Former UFC Champs Including Tyron Woodley
