Paige VanZant vows to fight on in BKFC: ‘I don’t quit when s—t get tough’

Paige VanZant did not have a dream debut for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on Friday night. In the main event of Knucklemania 1, the…

By: Tim Bissell | 3 years ago
Paige VanZant vows to fight on in BKFC: ‘I don’t quit when s—t get tough’
Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

Paige VanZant did not have a dream debut for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on Friday night. In the main event of Knucklemania 1, the former UFC headliner dropped a decision to Britain Hart.

Moments after Hart’s hand was raised, VanZant took to social media to say she was ‘humble in defeat’. A day removed from the contest, PVZ is back online with longer, and more detailed, thoughts about what went down and where she goes from here.

The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear our defeat without losing heart. Last night I told my husband I didn’t want to fight any more. But as soon as the words left my lips I knew that wasn’t true. I’m a fighter. This is what I live for. Losers quit when they fail, winners fail until they succeed. That fight last night was a good learning experience for me. The timing and distance took a little bit to figure out. But I felt my last round was my best round and I’m going to build off of that! I’m thankful to fight for the best team in the world and we are going to go back and fix our mistakes. Thank you to Britain for competing last night and congrats on victory! I’m also confident we will cross paths again.

On Instagram VanZant confessed that she told her husband, Bellator’s Austin Vanderford, that she “didn’t want to fight any more”. However, the former Dancing with the Stars contestant said as soon as she uttered those words she knew it wasn’t true. “I’m a fighter,” wrote VanZant. “This is what I live for.”

VanZant then went on to say she felt the last round in her fight with Hart was her best and that she is eager to get back in the gym and start fixing some “mistakes”. VanZant also congratulated Hart on the win and revealed she felt they would exchange blows again in the future.

VanZant then posted again on Instagram, showing off some of her war wounds from the sans gloves contest.

Ok, last post for today.

I love this man more then anything on earth. Thank you so much for constantly supporting me and reminding me who the fuck I am. I am Paige Mother Fucking Vanzant. I don’t quit when shit get tough. I’m in this for the long haul and I don’t give a fuck what any of you have to say about it.

Xoxoxoxo

– FORVER PVZ

“I am Paige Mother Fucking VanZant,” she exclaimed. “I don’t quit when shit get tough. I’m in this for the long haul and I don’t give a fuck what any of you have to say about it.”

VanZant signed for BKFC last year after fighting out her contract with the UFC. In the UFC she had nine bouts between 2014 and 2020, earning five wins over than span.

Share this story

About the author
Tim Bissell
Tim Bissell

Tim Bissell is a writer, editor and deputy site manager for Bloody Elbow. He has covered combat sports since 2015. Tim covers news and events and has also written longform and investigative pieces. Among Tim's specialties are the intersections between crime and combat sports. Tim has also covered head trauma, concussions and CTE in great detail.

Tim is also BE's lead (only) sumo reporter. He blogs about that sport here and on his own substack, Sumo Stomp!

Email me at tim@bloodyelbow.com. Nice messages will get a response.

More from the author

Bloody Elbow Podcast
Related Stories