Paige VanZant: 12 Gauge — Fighter Profile, Career & Legacy
- Dana Black
- May 10
- 12 min read
Introduction
Paige '12 Gauge' VanZant is a former UFC women's strawweight and flyweight contender (UFC tenure 2014-2020), 2-time BKFC competitor, Misfits Boxing veteran, and one of the most foundational social-media-and-mainstream-television-crossover figures of women's MMA's mid-2010s breakthrough era. The Dundee, Oregon-born Team Alpha Male / MMA Lab-trained karate-influenced striker — born Paige Michelle Sletten on March 26, 1994; married to professional MMA fighter Austin Vanderford since August 2018; 3+ million Instagram followers — is most-globally-known for the April 2015 UFC on Fox 15 R3 switch-kick KO of Felice Herrig (one of the most-replayed UFC women's strawweight knockout finishes of the mid-2010s), the 2016 second-place Dancing with the Stars Season 22 finish, and her foundational role as the social-media-and-mainstream-television-crossover platform of late-2010s women's MMA. Her 8-5 final career professional MMA record across her 8-year career includes the multiple UFC Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses. She has not competed in MMA since the July 2020 UFC 251 R1 armbar submission loss to Amanda Ribas and is set to return to BKFC competition in 2026 per BKFC President David Feldman.
Contents
Quick Stats
Nickname: 12 Gauge
Age: 32 (born March 26, 1994)
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
Reach: 63" (160 cm)
Weight Class: Strawweight (115 lb), Flyweight (125 lb)
Stance: Orthodox
Team: Team Alpha Male / MMA Lab (post-UFC)
Pro MMA Record: 8-5 (last MMA fight UFC 251 July 2020); 0-2 BKFC; combat sports career bridging MMA-BKFC-Misfits Boxing-Power Slap-AEW
Background
Born Paige Michelle Sletten on March 26, 1994 in Dundee, Oregon. VanZant adopted her mother's maiden name 'VanZant' as her professional fighting name. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest before her family relocated to Reno, Nevada when she was a teenager. She turned professional in MMA in 2012 at age 18 and signed with the UFC in 2013 — making her UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 57 in November 2014.
She competed in the UFC from November 2014 to July 2020 and went 5-4 across her UFC tenure. She is most-globally-known for the April 2015 UFC on Fox 15 R3 switch-kick KO of Felice Herrig, the multiple UFC Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses, and her 2016 second-place finish on Dancing with the Stars Season 22 partnered with professional dancer Mark Ballas. She left the UFC after her July 2020 UFC 251 R1 armbar submission loss to Amanda Ribas and signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) — going 0-2 across her BKFC tenure (Britain Hart at KnuckleMania I February 2021, Rachael Ostovich at BKFC 19 July 2021). She married professional MMA fighter Austin Vanderford in August 2018. She resides in Sarasota, Florida and has built one of the most-followed social media presences in women's MMA history (3+ million Instagram followers, substantial OnlyFans subscriber base since 2021).
Fighting Style
Aggressive volume striking with karate-influenced kick patterns and BJJ purple-belt grappling. VanZant's pattern is textbook Team Alpha Male / MMA Lab — Sacramento-trained foundation combined with championship-level striking output and the foundational karate-influenced kick patterns that defined her UFC strawweight prime years. The April 2015 UFC on Fox 15 R3 switch-kick KO of Felice Herrig (one of the most-replayed UFC women's strawweight knockout finishes of the mid-2010s), the July 2016 UFC Sioux Falls R3 head-kick KO of Bec Rawlings, the January 2018 UFC Fight Night 124 R3 armbar submission of Jessica-Rose Clark, and the multiple UFC Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses are the canonical examples of her championship-level fighting arsenal.
Her weakness across her UFC career has been wrestling-and-grappling-driven elite-level women's strawweight title contender takedown defense. The November 2015 UFC Fight Night 80 R5 RNC submission loss to Rose Namajunas (the foundational moment of Namajunas's championship-era prime years), the July 2020 UFC 251 R1 armbar submission loss to Amanda Ribas (her final UFC career fight), the multiple armbreak fight injuries (right arm broken twice during her UFC career), and the multiple UFC late-career losses across 2018-2020 reflected variations of the same pattern. Within her UFC strawweight prime years from November 2014 to July 2016, however, her arsenal was the technical floor of UFC women's strawweight competition — multiple Performance of the Night bonuses and the foundational social-media-and-mainstream-television-crossover platform that defined the women's MMA mid-2010s breakthrough era.
Career Highlights
May 17, 2012 — Pro MMA debut at age 18.
November 22, 2014 — UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 57 vs Kailin Curran. Won by R3 TKO; Fight of the Night.
April 18, 2015 — UFC on Fox 15 vs Felice Herrig. Won by R3 switch-kick KO at 0:30; Performance of the Night.
August 2015 — UFC Fight Night 76 vs Alex Chambers. Won by R3 armbar.
November 15, 2015 — UFC Fight Night 80 vs Rose Namajunas. Lost by R5 RNC.
April 2016 — UFC on Fox 19 vs Joanne Calderwood (catchweight). Won by R3 RNC submission.
July 2016 — UFC Sioux Falls vs Bec Rawlings. Won by R3 head-kick KO; Performance of the Night.
December 2016 — Won runner-up on Dancing with the Stars Season 22 (with partner Mark Ballas).
December 2016 — UFC on Fox 22 vs Michelle Waterson. Lost by R1 RNC.
January 14, 2018 — UFC Fight Night 124 vs Jessica-Rose Clark. Lost by unanimous decision.
January 19, 2019 — UFC Fight Night 143 vs Rachael Ostovich. Won by R2 armbar.
August 17, 2019 — UFC on ESPN 5 vs Cynthia Calvillo (flyweight debut). Lost by unanimous decision.
July 11, 2020 — UFC 251 vs Amanda Ribas. Lost by R1 armbar; final UFC career fight.
August 2020 — Departed UFC.
February 5, 2021 — BKFC KnuckleMania I vs Britain Hart. Lost by unanimous decision; bareknuckle boxing debut.
July 23, 2021 — BKFC 19 vs Rachael Ostovich. Lost by unanimous decision.
August 2021 — Launched OnlyFans subscription platform.
2021-2022 — AEW (All Elite Wrestling) appearances.
August 13, 2022 — Charisa Sigala BKFC fight cancelled.
2024 — Drew with Elle Brooke in Misfits Boxing match in Houston.
2024-2026 — Multiple Power Slap appearances.
December 2025 — Featured Playboy Sweden cover.
Late 2025-early 2026 — Announced BKFC return per BKFC President David Feldman; no fight booked yet.
Notable Fights & Rivalries
vs Felice Herrig (UFC on Fox 15, 2015)
VanZant's career-defining UFC win and one of the most-replayed UFC women's strawweight knockout finishes of the mid-2010s. She stopped Felice Herrig — established UFC women's strawweight contender — by R3 switch-kick KO at 0:30 of round three at UFC on Fox 15 in April 2015. The result earned her UFC Performance of the Night honors and was the foundational moment of her UFC strawweight prime years. The switch-kick finish has been replayed extensively in UFC mainstream-television media and is widely cited as the foundational moment of VanZant's social-media-and-mainstream-television-crossover platform.
vs Rose Namajunas (UFC Fight Night 80, 2015)
VanZant's most-watched UFC women's strawweight title contender fight loss. Rose Namajunas — future two-time UFC Women's Strawweight Champion — submitted VanZant by R5 RNC at UFC Fight Night 80 on December 10, 2015. The result was widely cited as the foundational moment of Namajunas's championship-era prime years and one of the most-replayed UFC women's strawweight submission finishes of late 2015. Namajunas went on to win the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship at UFC 217 in November 2017 over Joanna Jędrzejczyk.
vs Amanda Ribas (UFC 251, 2020)
VanZant's final UFC career fight. Amanda Ribas — Brazilian women's strawweight contender — submitted VanZant by R1 armbar at UFC 251 on July 11, 2020. The result ended VanZant's UFC career and led directly to her August 2020 UFC departure. Ribas has subsequently competed in the UFC women's strawweight division across multiple title contender fights.
vs Britain Hart (BKFC KnuckleMania I, 2021) and Rachael Ostovich (BKFC 19, 2021)
VanZant's bareknuckle boxing debut and second BKFC fight. She made her BKFC debut on February 5, 2021 at KnuckleMania I in Tampa, Florida — losing by unanimous decision to Britain Hart in a fight she had publicly hyped as 'the biggest moment of my career.' She lost her second BKFC fight by unanimous decision to Rachael Ostovich at BKFC 19 on July 23, 2021 — note that VanZant had previously beaten Ostovich in the UFC in January 2019 by R2 armbar, making the BKFC rematch one of the most-watched UFC-to-BKFC career-arc rematches in promotion history.
Mainstream-television and social-media-crossover career arc
VanZant's foundational career arc as the social-media-and-mainstream-television-crossover figure of women's MMA's mid-2010s breakthrough era. The 2016 second-place finish on Dancing with the Stars Season 22 (with partner Mark Ballas), the 2024 Misfits Boxing match draw with Elle Brooke in Houston, the multiple Power Slap appearances, the 2021-2022 AEW (All Elite Wrestling) appearances, the 3+ million Instagram followers, the substantial OnlyFans subscriber base since August 2021, the December 2025 Playboy Sweden cover, and the announced BKFC return in late 2025-early 2026 per BKFC President David Feldman together represent one of the most-watched mainstream-crossover career arcs in women's MMA history. VanZant has stated publicly she earned more on OnlyFans in one day than her entire fighting career combined.
Championships & Accolades
Final UFC career record: 5-4 across 6-year UFC tenure (2014-2020).
Final career professional MMA record: 8-5 across 8-year career (2012-2020).
Career UFC wins over Kailin Curran (UFC FN 57 R3 TKO), Felice Herrig (UFC on Fox 15 R3 switch-kick KO), Alex Chambers (UFC FN 76 R3 armbar), Joanne Calderwood (UFC on Fox 19 R3 RNC), Bec Rawlings (UFC Sioux Falls R3 head-kick KO), and Rachael Ostovich (UFC FN 143 R2 armbar).
Multiple UFC Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses — including foundational UFC on Fox 15 Performance of the Night for the switch-kick KO of Felice Herrig.
Famous switch-kick KO of Felice Herrig at UFC on Fox 15 (April 2015) — one of the most-replayed UFC women's strawweight knockout finishes of the mid-2010s.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt.
Dancing with the Stars Season 22 (2016) runner-up — partnered with professional dancer Mark Ballas.
BKFC career record: 0-2 (KnuckleMania I February 2021 vs Britain Hart, BKFC 19 July 2021 vs Rachael Ostovich).
Misfits Boxing draw with Elle Brooke (2024 Houston).
Multiple Power Slap appearances.
AEW (All Elite Wrestling) appearances (2021-2022).
3+ million Instagram followers — one of the most-followed women's MMA athletes in social media history.
Foundational social-media-and-mainstream-television-crossover figure of women's MMA's mid-2010s breakthrough era.
Married to professional MMA fighter Austin Vanderford (August 2018).
Current Status
Inactive in MMA but active in combat sports media and adjacent appearances. VanZant's most recent professional fight was the July 23, 2021 BKFC 19 unanimous-decision loss to Rachael Ostovich. She has not competed in MMA since the July 2020 UFC 251 R1 armbar submission loss to Amanda Ribas. Her most recent televised combat sports appearance was the 2024 Misfits Boxing draw with Elle Brooke in Houston.
BKFC President David Feldman announced in late 2025-early 2026 that VanZant is set to return to BKFC competition — though no specific return fight has been booked. She continues to make occasional Power Slap appearances. She launched an OnlyFans subscription platform in August 2021 and has built one of the most-followed combat sports social media presences (3+ million Instagram followers, substantial OnlyFans subscriber base). She has stated publicly she earned more on OnlyFans in one day than her entire fighting career combined. She was featured on the December 2025 Playboy Sweden cover. She resides in Sarasota, Florida with her husband Austin Vanderford. She is now 32 years old. She is widely cited as the foundational social-media-and-mainstream-television-crossover figure of women's MMA's mid-2010s breakthrough era.
Fun Facts
Her professional fighting name 'VanZant' is her mother's maiden name — her birth name was Paige Michelle Sletten.
Her nickname '12 Gauge' reflects her championship-pace power-striking pattern and the foundational southern American-style nickname brand-building of her UFC strawweight prime years.
Famously KO'd Felice Herrig at UFC on Fox 15 in April 2015 by R3 switch-kick KO at 0:30 of round three — one of the most-replayed UFC women's strawweight knockout finishes of the mid-2010s.
Finished in second place on Dancing with the Stars Season 22 in 2016 — partnered with professional dancer Mark Ballas — making her one of the most-watched UFC-to-mainstream-television career-arc figures of the mid-2010s.
Has over 3 million Instagram followers — making her one of the most-followed women's MMA athletes in social media history.
Launched an OnlyFans subscription platform in August 2021 after her UFC departure — and has stated she earned more on OnlyFans in one day than her entire fighting career combined, becoming one of the foundational athlete-to-OnlyFans career-arc figures of the early 2020s.
Made multiple AEW (All Elite Wrestling) appearances in 2021-2022 and Misfits Boxing appearances in 2024 — capitalizing on her UFC pop-culture status to enter alternative combat sports promotions.
Beat Rachael Ostovich in the UFC by R2 armbar at UFC Fight Night 143 in January 2019 — but lost the BKFC rematch to Ostovich by unanimous decision at BKFC 19 in July 2021.
Is married to professional MMA fighter Austin Vanderford (August 2018) — one of the foundational MMA-couple brand-building partnerships of the late 2010s women's MMA era.
Legacy / Verdict
Paige '12 Gauge' VanZant is one of the most foundational social-media-and-mainstream-television-crossover figures of women's MMA's mid-2010s breakthrough era and one of the most-globally-recognized women's MMA pop-culture figures of the late 2010s. The April 2015 UFC on Fox 15 R3 switch-kick KO of Felice Herrig (one of the most-replayed UFC women's strawweight knockout finishes of the mid-2010s), the July 2016 UFC Sioux Falls R3 head-kick KO of Bec Rawlings, the multiple UFC Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses, the 5-4 final UFC career record across her 6-year UFC tenure, the 2016 second-place Dancing with the Stars Season 22 finish, the 3+ million Instagram followers, the August 2021 OnlyFans subscription platform launch, the multiple Power Slap and AEW (All Elite Wrestling) appearances, the 2024 Misfits Boxing draw with Elle Brooke in Houston, and the announced late 2025-early 2026 BKFC return per BKFC President David Feldman together represent one of the most-watched mainstream-crossover career arcs in women's MMA history.
What complicates the legacy is the post-2017 stretch — the multiple UFC late-career losses across 2018-2020, the right arm broken twice during her UFC career, the November 2015 UFC Fight Night 80 R5 RNC submission loss to Rose Namajunas (the foundational moment of Namajunas's championship-era prime years), the July 2020 UFC 251 R1 armbar submission loss to Amanda Ribas that ended her UFC career, the 0-2 BKFC career record, and the multiple cancelled and re-routed combat sports career bookings since 2021. The competitive resume is permanent and the championship-era prime years are settled. The legacy as the foundational social-media-and-mainstream-television-crossover figure of women's MMA's mid-2010s breakthrough era is permanent — and the announced BKFC return represents one of the most-watched comeback storylines in modern women's combat sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paige VanZant still fighting?
She has not officially retired. Her last MMA fight was the July 2020 UFC 251 R1 armbar submission loss to Amanda Ribas. She subsequently fought twice in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) in 2021, going 0-2 (lost to Britain Hart at KnuckleMania I in February 2021 and to Rachael Ostovich at BKFC 19 in July 2021). She drew with British boxer Elle Brooke in a 2024 Misfits Boxing match in Houston, has made multiple Power Slap appearances, and announced a BKFC return in late 2025-early 2026 per BKFC President David Feldman. No specific BKFC return fight has been booked.
What is Paige VanZant's professional MMA record?
Eight wins and five losses across her 8-year MMA career from 2012 to 2020. Her UFC tenure was 5-4 across her 2014 to 2020 run. She is most-globally-known for the famous switch-kick KO of Felice Herrig at UFC on Fox 15 in April 2015 — one of the most-replayed UFC women's strawweight knockout finishes of the mid-2010s. She also defeated Bec Rawlings at UFC Sioux Falls in July 2016 by R3 head-kick KO.
Did Paige VanZant compete on Dancing With the Stars?
Yes — she finished in second place on Dancing with the Stars Season 22 in 2016, partnered with professional dancer Mark Ballas. The runner-up finish was the foundational moment of her mainstream-television crossover career and helped establish her as one of the most-globally-recognized women's MMA pop-culture figures of the mid-2010s. She also has appeared in The Masked Singer and various other reality television programs.
What is Paige VanZant's social media following?
She has over 3 million Instagram followers and is widely cited as one of the most-followed women's MMA athletes in social media. She has built a substantial subscriber base on OnlyFans (launched in 2021 after her UFC departure), where she has stated she earned more in one day than her entire fighting career combined. She has also made multiple Misfits Boxing, Power Slap, and AEW (All Elite Wrestling) appearances across her post-UFC career.
What style does Paige VanZant fight?
Aggressive volume striking with karate-influenced kick patterns and BJJ purple-belt grappling. VanZant's pattern is textbook Team Alpha Male / MMA Lab — Sacramento-trained foundation combined with championship-level striking output and the foundational karate-influenced kick patterns that defined her UFC strawweight prime years. The April 2015 UFC on Fox 15 R3 switch-kick KO of Felice Herrig (one of the most-replayed UFC women's strawweight knockout finishes of the mid-2010s), the July 2016 UFC Sioux Falls R3 head-kick KO of Bec Rawlings, and the multiple UFC Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses are the canonical examples of her championship-level fighting arsenal.
Where is Paige VanZant from?
Born Paige Michelle Sletten on March 26, 1994 in Dundee, Oregon. VanZant grew up in the Pacific Northwest before her family relocated to Reno, Nevada, where she trained at Sin City Boxing and various MMA gyms. She subsequently trained at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento under Urijah Faber and at MMA Lab in Phoenix. She married professional MMA fighter Austin Vanderford in August 2018. She resides in Sarasota, Florida and is the foundational social-media-and-mainstream-television-crossover figure of women's MMA's mid-2010s breakthrough era.
References
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