What’s next for Paige VanZant? After defeat to Amanda Ribas and her UFC contract now expired, will she turn to WWE?

THERE was a definite sense of finality about Paige VanZant's appearance at UFC 251.

As she walked to the octagon before her bout with Amanda Ribas, with tears in her eyes, it seemed like she knew this was her farewell to the sport that's put her on the map.

And that was before the 26-year-old was comprehensively beaten by her opponent in the first round through a submission.

There's no doubt injuries have caught up with the MMA star - the most crucial being an arm fracture that's left a scar going from the wrist to the elbow of her right arm.

But with her contract now expired, and UFC president Dana White refusing to confirm whether the championship would offer her a new deal, VanZant finds herself at a crossroads.

“I’m excited. I’ve never been in this position ever, so I think it’s an important position for me to be in,” VanZant said, undeterred by a future that's unwritten.

“You don’t really know your value until somebody else tells you what it is, and it’s the option of multiple people that say what they think my value is. So I’m going to gain a lot of knowledge.”

So what's next for Paige?

REALITY TV

Where VanZant won't be short of offers will be from TV producers who understand her star quality and pull.

With her girl-next-door looks, she's developed a cult following outside the UFC and boasts an ever-growing social media following (2.6m on Instagram).

She has already become a household name in the States thanks to an appearance on Dancing with the Stars (US's version of Strictly) in 2016.

The blonde beauty wowed judges Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman to finish runner-up in the competition - scoring perfect marks in the Jive, Samba, Freestyle and Jive/Salsa fusion.

A year later, VanZant was invited to be a contestant on Chopped - a celebrity cooking competition like Masterchef in the UK.

After breezing through the appetiser and entree rounds, she found herself in the show's finale, the dessert round.

This time, she became a reality TV-winner edging out former Olympic gold medalist figure skater Dorothy Hamill.

WWE

Although she was a favourite among UFC fans, her financial earnings with the organisation were measly.

Across nine fights, including pay-per-view money, VanZant earned around £290,000 - a sum dwarfed by her male counterparts who have earned figures in the millions.

And she has always been vocal about what she feels she's worth. Which is why for the past few years talks with the WWE have been taken very seriously.

VanZant hasn't been shy in flirting with the idea of wrestling, and has always viewed it as a serious alternative to MMA fighting.

"I also think the WWE is an amazing organisation and it’s a very athletic entertainment industry which would suit me," she previously said.

"There’s probably huge potential for a crossover down the line and of course I’m a big fan of what they do, so it would be great to be a part of."