'This is awesome': Fans erupt over Paige VanZant's bare-knuckle debut
Paige VanZant’s bare-knuckle debut lived-up to the hype but the former UFC star was unable to come away with a win after being picked apart in a brutal five-round war.
Popular fighter VanZant may have been paid the big bucks ahead of her bare-knuckle debut on the weekend, but her opponent Britain Hart was too much for her in a brutal blow for the sport.
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VanZant left the UFC back in July when her contract expired after four losses out of her last six fights.
The free agent turned to bare-knuckle fighting, in a contract she claimed is lucrative, and entered the weigh-in ahead of her clash against Hart.
VanZant showed grit and determination during the bout and even opened up Hart in Round 4, but the fight belonged to her opponent as she overwhelmed the former UFC star in a brutal boxing display.
Hart admitted VanZant had knocked two of her teeth out during the bout, but she was ecstatic after the biggest victory of her career.
“This is awesome,” she said after the fight.
“I made this moment about the people who believed, not the people who didn’t believe.”
Despite VanZant’s loss, fans were full of praise for the brutal spectacle.
Post-fight 😂 pic.twitter.com/TJgfKIVZ5v
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) February 6, 2021
Much respect to Briton hart. Good fight. @paigevanzant will be back.
— malki kawa (@malkikawa) February 6, 2021
Entertaining scrap between @paigevanzant and @teambritainhart! Thanks ladies! #BKFC #KnuckleMania pic.twitter.com/zYKjFFXRBB
— Karyn Bryant (@KarynBryant) February 6, 2021
Despite @paigevanzant taking the L tonight, I gained alot of respect for her. Girl made adjustments throughout the fight against a gritty fighter.#Knucklemania
— DANK MMA 👊🏾🥋👊🏾 (@dankmma) February 6, 2021
Hart was able to control the distance against VanZant and landed the heavier blows throughout the competition.
Hart was able to land a huge right at the end of the fourth, but VanZant kept coming forward in the entertaining bout.
Despite VanZant landing her biggest shots at the end of Round 5, it wasn’t enough as all three judges scored the contest 49-46.
Hart turned VanZant’s head!!! 😤#KnuckleMania #BKFC pic.twitter.com/0dbtEPITiu
— BroBible (@BroBible) February 6, 2021
Fans shocked at brutal bare-knuckle fight
Fighting on the undercard to former UFC star Paige VanZant’s debut in the bare knuckle category, Taylor Starling and Charisa Sigala made for a confronting sight at the end of the fifth and final round of their bout.
Both fighters were left bloodied to an extraordinary degree from as early as the first round, with the fight incredibly never stopped until it went the distance.
Starling was handed the victory via unanimous decision (50-43 x 2, 49-44) thanks to two knockdowns and her more accurate punches.
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