“I made more money on Dancing with the Stars than I have in my entire UFC career combined” Paige VanZant talks fighter pay ahead of UFC 251.
Paige VanZant will take on Amanda Ribas on the main card of UFC 251. This will be the last match on her contract. The match was originally booked for March 14. However, VanZant pulled out due to an injury and the match was subsequently moved to July 11 at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
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Despite the uncertainty surrounding her future, VanZant is excited for the future. She claims that there are far more lucrative options than fighting in the UFC and if the promotion does not offer her a better contract than she will not hesitate to become a free agent.
However, fighting is what she loves and she has even dropped sponsors to fully focus on her upcoming match and make a statement at the event in a bid to prove her value to everyone.
Paige VanZant talks fighter pay
Heading into the final fight of her current contract, @paigevanzant is looking to prove her value at #UFC251
(via @arielhelwani) pic.twitter.com/t0NnW7ObRl
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 24, 2020
Speaking to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, VanZant said:
“Everyone knows how much I make. I make $46,000 a fight. 46 [to show] and 46 [to win], I’m not gonna hide it, everyone knows. I can make way more than that just [by] promoting brands on Instagram.
“You know that should say something about why would I step away from all the amazing success that I have. I have made more money in ‘Dancing with the Stars’ than I have in my entire UFC career combined… Every fight, every win, every bonus. And it just shows the money is out there.”
I love fighting, it’s what I love to do,” VanZant continued. “For this fight, I have dropped every single sponsor, I haven’t posted anything on Instagram… Nothing matters to me except for this fight. It’s a clean slate for me. I’m not promoting any sponsors, I have nothing. I’m just excited to go out there and prove my value to absolutely everybody. And I think fighting is how I do that.”
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