UFC Women’s Flyweight Paige VanZant posted a video on her Instagram of her cast being removed. She has successfully completed rehabilitation for her long-standing arm injury.
The former 115 pounder is vocally determined to return to training and eventually fighting. VanZant has not been seen in the octagon for over a year since her armbar victory against Rachael Ostovich. Though VanZant is nearing the end of her UFC contract, she still has a single fight left.
On the caption of the video where VanZant had her cast removed, she made mention of the COVID-19 crisis, specifically noting “First thing first, let’s heal the world, after that I’m coming to fight.”
Background on Paige VanZant
VanZant first injured her arm during her flyweight debut against Jessica Rose-Clark in 2018. A spinning backfist went awry resulted in her breaking her forearm on Rose-Clark’s head. The injury was compounded by the decision for her to continue fighting even after the injury. In addition, VanZant returned to training before fully recovering from surgery.
This necessitated a second operation.
The injury has bedevilled VanZant ever since, requiring a cast. As a result, VanZant was forced to pull out of a fight with Amanda Ribas, who fought – and defeated – Randa Markos in VanZant’s place.
VanZant has however stayed in the minds of MMA fans with her high pace of social media output, as well as a public spat with fellow Flyweight Maycee Barber. Barber repeatedly called VanZant out for a fight. VanZant responded by pointedly calling out every single women’s strawweight and flyweight in the UFC – with the exception of Barber.
However, VanZant has come under fire from other fighters. In response to the mass callout, former teammate Cynthia Calvillo dismissed VanZant’s abilities, describing her as “…more valuable as a sex symbol and like doing other stuff, not as a fighter. As a fighter, there’s nothing.”
