Paige VanZant had a message to the detractors after her loss to Rachael Ostovich at BKFC 19.
Former UFC headliner Paige VanZant took a tough loss to Rachael Ostovich at BKFC 19 on Friday night. VanZant lost by unanimous decision and ate a number of hard shots from her opponent throughout the contest.
The loss drops VanZant’s bare knuckle record to 0-2. She lost her BKFC debut to Britain Hart at February’s KnuckleMania 1.
Since losing to Ostovich, VanZant has been active on social media. At first she let everyone know that she would “rise” from this defeat. Now she has a more pointed message for those who may be doubting her ability to get back in the win column.
“Guess what bitches? I’m still smiling!” wrote VanZant. “My story is full of setbacks, road blocks and detours. But, it is also filled with major comebacks, peace in my soul and a grace that saved my life.”
“I promise you this,” she continued. “I would endure this pain everyday of my life over the pain of regret. I am going to keep chasing my dream one step at a time. 99.9% of people on earth would not dare do what I do.”
Accompanying her message was a defiant gesture aimed at her detractors—a double bird salute (featuring extremely swollen knuckles).
VanZant’s MMA career began in 2012. She made it to the UFC in 2014, shortly after that promotion expanded its roster to include strawweights. She won her first three UFC contests, defeating Kallin Curran, Felice Herrig and Alex Chambers.
She then lost to future champion Rose Namajunas in the main event of UFC Fight Night 80 in 2015. A sensational switch kick KO over Bec Rawlings (who is also currently signed to BKFC) followed. After that VanZant took back-to-back losses to Michelle Waterson and Jessica-Rose Clark.
She rebounded from those losses with a submission win over Ostovich. Her last UFC bout was a submission loss to Amanda Ribas at last year’s UFC 251.