Paige VanZant vows to celebrate first bare-knuckle win with pint of beer in the pub as ex-UFC star returns in London
PAIGE VANZANT has vowed to celebrate her first bare-knuckle boxing win with pint of beer when she makes her fight return in London.
The ex-UFC contender lost her opening two bouts in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship ring.
But VanZant hopes three is the lucky number when she faces Charisa Sigala in her comeback fight on August 20.
And with the bout taking place at Wembley Arena, the American has plenty of choices when picking a post-fight boozer.
VanZant, 28, told SunSport: “I have not had British beer! I had a lot of Guinness while I was in Ireland, a lot.
“But I will be ready for my first drink after this fight, so definitely someone in London is going to see me in a pub.”
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The part-time professional wrestler lost her opening BKFC fight against Britain Hart, 32, who is now 5-3.
And last July, she faced Rachael Ostovich, 31, in a rematch of the UFC fight VanZant won in 2019.
This time Ostovich had her hand raised, leaving VanZant 0-2 in the rind and refusing to let it lay.
She said: “I know that I learned a lot of lessons in the first two fights and anybody can have one bare-knuckle boxing match and a few will have two, not many make it to three.
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“So I’m really fortunate, I went ten rounds in bare-knuckle boxing and I’m ready for five more.
“I’m definitely not going to end my career in bare-knuckle boxing without a few wins. So, I’m really excited for this next one.
“I’m training harder than ever, I’ve learned lessons and I’m ready to just go out there and show what I’ve learned from the first two fights."
VanZant confirms she is entering the final fight in her current BKFC contract under promoter Dave Feldman.
And there has been speculation regarding her future after she signed for All Elite Action Wrestling and featured in an upcoming horror movie.
I’m definitely not going to end my career in bare-knuckle boxing without a few wins. So, I’m really excited for this next one.
Paige VanZant
But VanZant, who earns more in BKFC than she did in the UFC, has no plans to hang up her gloves just yet.
She said: “Honestly, I’m having a lot of fun in boxing and I don’t know exactly what opportunities will develop after this contract ends.
“But I know I can’t leave BKFC without a win, so I’m going for a win on this one, for sure and God forbid if it doesn’t happen, I’m going to keep fighting for them.
“Even if I do go out there with a phenomenal performance, get a first-round knockout - which is what I’m aiming for - if that happens, how can you leave after a performance like that?
“That excitement and that thrill, I’m having a great time with BKFC, the opportunities obviously open when you’re a free agent, you have a lot of things going on.
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“I’ll talk to my managers, talk to Dave and we’ll go from there.
"But right now, I’m not even thinking about the contract ending, I’m just thinking about this next win.”
