I have a sister who is a good-looking, blonde criminal defense attorney in LA. When she was a Federal Public Defender, new client reaction was often, “I want an old Jewish lawyer.” My sister always proved them wrong, but in some fields, being mediagenic isn’t all good.
Paige VanZant got opportunities that are not available to less mediagenic fighters with a comparable level of skill. And she was under-appreciated as a real fighter.
VanZant went 3-1 in ten months, and at 19, got a UFC contract. PVZ won Fight of the Night in her debut, and won the next two, too. Then she lost to Rose Namajunas in a fight so tough VanZant said she was still finding dried blood days later. The loss actually won her fans though, as she established beyond a doubt that she’s a real fighter.
PVZ bounced back from the loss with switch kick KO win over Bec Rawlings, winning her second performance bonus. However, she lost the next two, armbarred Rachael Ostovich in Round 2, decided to fight out her contract, and got armbarred by Amanda Ribas in Round 1.
1-3 in the last four is not the ideal record to enter free agency, but PVZ has looks, is a real fighter, and is managed by First Round Management founder Malki Kawa. After speaking with a number of organizations, to widespread surprise, it was announced that PVZ had signed with Dave Feldman’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
The financial pressures in MMA media are such that most articles are transcriptions of video interviews or re-written press releases. There are however some sterling exceptions. If you want to know what is really going in the sport, read Damon Martin at MMA Fighting. He spoke with VanZant, Kawa, and Feldman, revealing that PVZ’s four-fight deal with BKFC is worth millions.
It’s a multi-million dollar deal and we’re not even talking the sprinkles and the cherries that go on top of the sundae,” said Kawa. “It’s a four-fight deal and Dave and I sat and planned out these four fights on how they should look, when they should be, over the course of the next 16 to 18 months and I think that if everything goes the way that we expect it to go between the three of us, Paige, Dave and myself, multi-million will turn even bigger than that.
In addition, PVZ can compete in anything outside of BKB, MMA, and boxing, so pro wrestling and grappling are in. And there are further opportunities for VanZant, including commentating, which she appreciates and will take advantage of, but her focus is on fighting, and specifically striking, which is her passion.
PVZ has been endlessly tagged in a soft-tissue-damage heavy image of Jason Knight after a BKFC bout with Artem Lobov; all three are UFC vets. There are widespread doubts that PVZ will actually let her face be smashed by bare knuckles.
Honestly for me, it was never even a thought, said VanZant. I understand people think I’m cute but I’m a fighter and an athlete first and foremost. … In the UFC, I broke my arm and had to have surgery three times. That was a longterm injury that came from being kneed in the arm, from being kicked in the arm, from spinning backfists, those are all things I don’t even have to worry about anymore.
A cut on your face always heals. I’ve been cut open before and people still think I’m pretty, and it hasn’t hurt my career yet. … We had really big offers all over the place, but the offer that excited me and the promotion that excited me was this one.”
I’ll be paid well enough … I have a plastic surgeon on speed dial and I can send him a text and say hey, you’ve got to fix me up. … There is that stigma ‘well she’s just a pretty face’ but that’s not how I see myself at all. I see myself as a competitor and I see myself as a true, really good striker and an athlete. I think what better way to show that off.
BKFC has the feel of the earliest days of MMA, with a new but ancient and raw ruleset, blood, controversy, and questions about legality. The UFC eventually went mainstream. PVZ could be the figure that takes the promotion to the next level. In fact, they are betting millions that that happens.
VanZant will likely make her BKFC debut in November or December. Will you be watching?
