Paige VanZant has introduced her return to combined martial arts (MMA). On her podcast A Kickass Love Story together with her husband and fellow fighter Austin Vanderford, the previous UFC fighter revealed she has signed with International Combat League (GFL).
“They’re choosing up anyone and all people who has a reputation on this sport that’s a free agent,” VanZant mentioned. “They provided me a contract and I mentioned sure.”
In line with GFL’s web site, the promotion “is revolutionizing fight sports activities with a worldwide, team-based league that shares 50% of occasion income with athletes and prioritizes their well being, wellness, and retirement. This groundbreaking league unites followers and athletes, creating MMA’s most passionate group.”
The promotion, which has signed quite a lot of retired and well-known fight sports activities athletes, intends to carry their first card in 2025.
“I feel that is the proper alternative as a result of I didn’t essentially depart MMA,” VanZant defined. “I positively didn’t depart MMA as a result of I wasn’t enthusiastic about it, however after I grew to become a free agent exterior of the UFC, the largest provide that got here in was [from BKFC]. They have been those. They introduced the very best provide to me and it was thrilling, and it was new, and it actually sparked my curiosity.
“Not that I didn’t need to battle for Bellator, or, I had just a few others [who offered me a deal], however for me, that’s simply not the place my story, the place I wished to take it. And I used to be like, ‘No, I need to do that bare-knuckle boxing factor,’ and I completely beloved it. …
“Now there’s this new MMA promotion group that truly made me actually excited to battle for them.”
