Former UFC star Paige VanZant is sharing an emotional and heartfelt moment following her husband, Austin Vanderford’s stunning UFC debut at Fight Night 252. The MMA community was buzzing after Vanderford secured a victory against Nikolay Veretennikov by second-round TKO in a fight that came together on less than one week’s notice.
While Paige is known for her own incredible achievements inside the Octagon, she admitted to TMZ Sports that watching her husband’s big win felt “more special” than any moment she experienced in her own MMA career. “It almost felt more special than any of my wins. Just seeing him in that moment. He’s my best friend. Seeing him finally make the walk was incredible,” VanZant shared, expressing how proud she was of Austin’s accomplishment.
The emotional significance of the victory goes beyond just the win itself. Vanderford, who was signed by Dana White’s UFC just days before the event, entered the octagon with only a handful of days to prepare, which makes his victory even more impressive. Vanderford, a skilled fighter with a 12-2 professional record at the time, was able to adjust quickly and deliver an emphatic TKO victory, which has propelled his career to new heights in the UFC. His win is even more special considering it marks the beginning of his UFC journey, which Paige couldn’t be prouder of.
“I almost couldn’t believe it,” Paige continued. “To see him take that walk, knowing how hard he’s worked, it was such a surreal moment for me.” As Vanderford’s victory echoed through the MMA world, the couple’s mutual admiration and support for each other were evident. Paige has long been a fixture in the combat sports world, known for her time in the UFC and her transition into other ventures like PowerSlap, but this moment clearly meant just as much, if not more, to her.
Looking ahead, Paige is confident that her husband is going places within the UFC. “Oh for sure, yeah,” she said when asked if Austin would fight again in the UFC. “Now that he’s in, he’s in the UFC. It’s just playing that game of who they want him to be matched up with and going from there.” Paige’s faith in Austin’s abilities is unshakeable, and she’s certain this won’t be the last we see of him in the octagon.
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Despite his hard-earned win, Austin Vanderford isn’t slowing down. He jumped straight back into training to help his wife prepare for her upcoming PowerSlap match, set for early March. Paige, who is 1-0-1 in PowerSlap competition, is gearing up for her showdown against 1-0 Mikael-Michelle Brown at PowerSlap12 in Las Vegas. Paige revealed that even though coaches advised Austin to take some time off after his UFC debut, he insisted on continuing his training. “We got home from the fight, and I’m preparing for PowerSlap, and he’s been training with me for this entire week. The coaches are like, ‘Hey, you need to take a few days off,’ but he’s like, ‘No, if I get another short notice [fight], I gotta be ready at any second,’” Paige shared with a laugh.
With the couple clearly having a deep connection and understanding of each other’s passion for combat sports, their support for one another is inspiring. Austin’s UFC debut victory has only further fueled the VanZant-Vanderford fire, and the two are ready to keep pushing forward with their careers.
For now, all eyes will be on Paige as she faces off against Mikael-Michelle Brown on March 7 at PowerSlap12. Fans are eagerly anticipating this next chapter for both Paige and Austin, and with such a strong partnership, there’s no doubt they’ll continue to excel in their respective fields. Stay tuned as these two combat sports stars continue to make waves in their careers—both individually and as a powerhouse couple.
