Paige VanZant is a fighter you’d just submit to. Even outside the ring. Even from afar. I mean, just look at what this woman is packing…
I bet you won’t complain if she gives you a chokehold, huh? Maybe you can tap in Morse code your safe word. So, are you ready to be in awe and at the same time be intimidated by this woman’s beauty? So let’s start, my friend, so we can ogle at her photos right after.
Who is Paige VanZant
Paige VanZant is one of those athletes who clearly didn’t believe in sticking to just one job title. Known to many as “12 Gauge,” she first made her name in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, competing in both the strawweight and flyweight divisions with a fast, aggressive style that got people’s attention quickly.
But she didn’t stop at MMA. Over the years, she’s added bare-knuckle boxing (with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship), professional wrestling with All Elite Wrestling, and even traditional boxing to her résumé. At this point, if it involves competition and a crowd, she’s probably tried it.
Outside the ring, she’s just as visible—appearing on shows like Dancing with the Stars and Chopped, writing a book, modeling, and building a strong online presence.
In short: fighter, entertainer, entrepreneur—Paige VanZant is doing a little bit of everything, and somehow making it all fit.
Her Early Life
Paige VanZant was born on March 26, 1994, in Dundee, Oregon, and grew up nearby in Sherwood—basically splitting her time between dance studios and the outdoors. Her parents owned a dance studio, so she spent over a decade training in ballet, jazz, and hip-hop (Yes, the footwork was there long before the fight game).
Outside the studio, she was more of a self-described tomboy—into dirt bikes, fishing, and anything that didn’t involve sitting still. She even popped up in a Bissell commercial as a teen, which is a very different kind of “early career highlight.”
Her high school years, though, weren’t easy. She dealt with serious bullying and went through a traumatic experience, which eventually led her to legally change her last name to VanZant—choosing it simply because she liked the sound of it. It was a way of taking back control in a situation where she didn’t have much.
That chapter, while difficult, helped shape her path. It’s part of what pushed her toward martial arts—giving her not just a competitive outlet, but also a sense of strength and self-defense. And if her career has shown anything since, it’s that she turned that resilience into something powerful.
Career Journey
Paige VanZant didn’t exactly plan on becoming a fighter—it kind of found her. After moving to Sparks, Nevada, she went looking for a dance studio and instead walked into a gym run by Ken Shamrock. Slight detour… big outcome.
She started training in boxing and martial arts, won an amateur fight at 18, and turned pro in 2012—picking up wins right out of the gate. By 2013, she had caught the attention of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, signing on as part of its new strawweight division. She was even set to appear on The Ultimate Fighter, but got sidelined for one very specific reason: she was 20, and the show required fighters to be 21. Timing is everything.
Once she got going in the UFC, she quickly became a fan favorite, known for her aggressive style and willingness to go all in. One of her standout moments came in 2016 when she knocked out Bec Rawlings with a flying head kick—earning a Performance of the Night bonus and reminding everyone she’s not just here for the spotlight.
Injuries, though, became part of the story too. A mix of back issues and other health setbacks forced her out of key fights, including a planned move to the flyweight division in 2017.
By 2020, she made a bold pivot, signing a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship reportedly worth over $1 million. She debuted in 2021 but came up short in her first fight—proof that even big moves come with challenges.
Not one to stay still, she kept exploring new formats, including stepping into the world of slap fighting in 2024. Yes, really. She picked up wins, a draw, and kept building experience in yet another combat sport—because apparently trying one is never enough.
In 2025, she signed with the Global Fight League and was set to debut on a high-profile card—but the events were ultimately canceled before she could step in.
If there’s a pattern here, it’s this: Paige VanZant doesn’t wait around for opportunities—she jumps into them, sometimes quite literally.
Facts and Trivia
Paige VanZant fights the way you’d expect from someone nicknamed “12 Gauge”—fast, aggressive, and always moving forward. Her style leans heavily on pressure: she likes to close the distance, tie opponents up, and go to work with clinch strikes, ground-and-pound, and the occasional “you’re not getting away that easily” grappling sequence.
If an opponent manages to break free, she’s usually right back in front of them within seconds, resetting the chaos. Inside the clinch, she mixes in knees, elbows, punches, and throws—basically turning tight spaces into her comfort zone. At range, she’ll switch it up with kicks and punches, and her background in dance actually shows up in her movement—flexible, quick, and surprisingly fluid. Case in point: that flying kick knockout of Bec Rawlings that earned her a Performance of the Night bonus.
She’s also got a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, so it’s not just pressure—it’s pressure with technique behind it.
Outside the cage, she’s kept things just as unpredictable. In 2021, she stepped into pro wrestling with All Elite Wrestling, quickly getting involved in storylines (and yes, throwing hands there too). She made her in-ring debut in 2022 and picked up a win alongside her team before eventually stepping away from the promotion in 2024.
And just to prove she can switch gears entirely, she competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2016 with partner Mark Ballas—making it all the way to the finals and finishing second. From fight nights to dance floors, she’s clearly comfortable wherever there’s a spotlight.
Paige VanZant Photos
Join her over 3 million followers on Instagram for her latest personal content.
And do check out our Paige VanZant page for a good number of her pictures.
