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Paige VanZant, once a top name in women’s mixed martial arts, has shed light on why she’s hesitant about making a return to the cage. While VanZant has been focusing on other ventures such as influencer boxing, professional wrestling, and Power Slap, her MMA career remains in question, despite her undeniable influence in the sport.
In a recent interview, the former UFC star was asked if she had any plans to step back into the octagon. Although she didn’t completely rule out the possibility, VanZant made it clear that a return would be challenging due to her past injuries, particularly the repeated fractures to her arm.
“I don’t even like to say I’m closing the door 100%, but I do see it would be hard for me to go back into MMA,” VanZant explained. “Not because I don’t love it, or not because I don’t have a passion for it still. But like I said, I broke my arm five times in my life and four times in basically two years of competing. I had two surgeries on it, and I still have a huge plate that runs the length of my entire forearm.”
VanZant emphasized the physical and mental toll her injuries have taken, noting that although she still loves competition, the risk of re-injury weighs heavily on her mind. She added,
“I’m fine if I break my arm, it’s really just the mental fortitude, I don’t know if I can push through that again. It was a really, really rough few years.”
Since leaving the UFC, VanZant has pursued a variety of opportunities outside MMA, reflecting the kind of future she had envisioned for herself. Her involvement in different combat sports and entertainment industries has kept her busy and fulfilled, reducing the appeal of a return to the grueling demands of MMA.
For now, it seems that while VanZant hasn't entirely closed the door on MMA, her future lies in exploring other, less risky paths.
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