5 things to know about UFC’s Paige VanZant – how bullying and sexual assault drove her on to fight for success
On July 11 she faces Brazilian fighter Amanda Ribas at the launch of UFC Fight Island, a special new venue in Abu Dhabi to hold international fights during Covid-19 – here’s all you need to know about VanZant
Either way, VanZant is undoubtedly one of UFC’s most recognisable competitors. On July 11 she faces Brazilian fighter Amanda Ribas at the launch of the UFC Fight Island, a new venue specially constructed in Abu Dhabi for the purpose of hosting international fights during Covid-19.
If you’re not familiar with her, here are five things to know about UFC’s most popular female star.
1. She is a survivor of sexual assault
Whatever fame and success VanZant has now achieved comes after overcoming a horrific crime perpetrated against her. It took a while for VanZant to talk about what transpired that night and in the mean time she was seriously bullied at school.
At the time it was difficult for her to open up and discuss the assault but VanZant has said that the rise of the #MeToo movement made her feel less alone.
It was in her 2018 biography, Rise: Surviving the Fight of My Life, that she revealed to the public what happened, but in the immediate aftermath, when the true account of that night was not known, she was seriously bullied at school.