Paige VanZant back in training ‘to get hands ready’ for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship after leaving UFC
PAIGE VANZANT is back training to get her ‘hands ready’ for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship after leaving the UFC.
VanZant signed for BKBFC after her UFC contract expired and has been preparing for the switch of combat codes ever since.
She uploaded a picture of herself with American Top Team boxing coach Gabriel de Oliveira and Brazilian MMA fighter Janaisa Morandin.
The caption read: “My group tonight!!! We’re getting these hands ready for @bareknucklefc.”
VanZant, who went 8-5 in her MMA career, has never boxed before and De Oliveira has the task of moulding her into a fully-fledged puncher.
But the trainer predicts the 26-year-old will have a ‘smooth transition’ into the brutal world of bare-knuckle boxing.
He told MMA Fighting: “We’ll have more time to work with Paige, because she will only fight in November or early next year.
“We don’t have the date set yet – but we’ve already seen how she moves. She’s not totally raw.
“We’ll have to work, add some concepts and change a few concepts she’s carrying over, but I think it’s going to be a smooth transition.
“The most important is that she’s willing to do it.
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“One cool thing about her is that we say something and she does it, she wants to learn, she’s thirsty for knowledge.
“Even though she’s new to this sport, she’s a big name in combat sports and adds a lot to the team.
“It’s a big challenge for her and for us, transferring her to this sport, to this focus, because that’s really new for her.
“She’s not a boxer, so we’ll have to focus on that.”