Ex-UFC Star Turned Social Media Influencer Paige VanZant Reportedly Set To Return To BKFC

Paige VanZant made her name in the fight game.

The blonde bombshell was a rising star in the UFC before a string of losses sent her out of the promotion entirely.

She then tried her hands at BKFC, where she went 0-2 in a pair of fights.

Since then, however, VanZant has explored different options. She’s become a major social media influencer and model and even tried her hand at professional wrestling.

BKFC president Dave Feldman said in late 2022 that he didn’t envision VanZant would return to his promotion.

“I’m going to be talking to her this week and there’s a possibility that she returns on a big card we’ve got in April,” Feldman said via Mirror Fighting. “If she doesn’t, then it’s probable that she won’t be coming back to BKFC.”

“She is definitely welcome with the organization it’s just a matter of what she wants to do. I think this helps her other revenue streams, it gives her notoriety to be able to get fans for her other revenue streams. I don’t think she’s going to turn it down because of money, I think the only reason she would turn it down is if she doesn’t have the desire to fight anymore.”

VanZant did not fight on that April BKFC card.

But apparently not all hope is lost. In fact, Feldman now says he expects to see her back with the company in the near future.

“I actually questioned that myself, but she had a conversation with a couple of the guys on the team and I don’t think that she’s moved on,” Feldman told MMA Fighting. “I think she wants one more crack at it.

“I know that I want to give her one more crack at it, so I think we’re going to have at least one more run there.”

Feldman said that despite VanZant’s 0-2 record, she’s always a tough out.

“Paige, she always comes to fight,” Feldman said. “Some people want to say, ‘She lost twice.’ She lost two close fights. She came to fight both times. She challenged herself both times. She doesn’t have to fight a day in her life ever again and she’s going to live a superstar life. She wants to challenge herself again.

“I take my hat off to her. Whatever she’s doing outside the ring, that’s on her own and let her do whatever she’s doing to make that kind of money she’s making, but as far as being a fighter, she keeps wanting to challenge herself and how can you not respect that.”

He also proposed another former UFC fighter, Felice Herrig, as a potential opponent. Herrig lost a unanimous decision to VanZant in the UFC in 2015. She was then cut by the company in 2022 after four consecutive losses.

Herrig signed with BKFC  last year, but has yet to fight for the company.