Paige VanZant Slaps Back: Former UFC Star Returns to Power Slap Before GFL Debut

Paige VanZant Slaps Back Former UFC Star Returns to Power Slap Before GFL DebutFormer UFC star Paige VanZant is gearing up for another combat sports appearance before her highly anticipated return to…

Paige VanZant Slaps Back Former UFC Star Returns to Power Slap Before GFL Debut

Former UFC star Paige VanZant is gearing up for another combat sports appearance before her highly anticipated return to MMA. Paige VanZant is scheduled to face Mikael-Michelle Brown in a Power Slap event on March 7th at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.

Paige VanZant

This will be VanZant’s third appearance in Power Slap, following a victory in her debut against Christine Wolmarans last June and a draw against Chelsea Dodson in October. The 30-year-old athlete has been exploring various combat sports since leaving the UFC in 2020, including bare-knuckle boxing, traditional boxing, pro wrestling, and more.

Paige VanZant Set for Power Slap Return Before GFL Debut edited

VanZant’s Power Slap bout serves as a prelude to her upcoming MMA comeback with the newly formed GFL. She recently signed with GFL and is expected to make her debut later this year against an opponent yet to be determined.

Paige VanZant Set for Power Slap Return Before GFL Debut 2

From Modeling to MMA

Before her fighting career took off, Paige VanZant pursued modeling and acting. She appeared in national commercials and modeled for athletic clothing brands such as Nike and Columbia Sportswear. However, a chance encounter with MMA in 2009 at Ken Shamrock’s Lion’s Den gym changed her career trajectory.

VanZant’s transition from modeling to fighting was unconventional, but she quickly made a name for herself in the UFC. Standing at 5’4″ and competing in the strawweight division, she amassed a 5-4 record in the promotion before exploring other opportunities. Now, she is a successful model who makes impressive money on various platforms.

Paige VanZant Set for Power Slap Return Before GFL Debut

As VanZant prepares for her Power Slap match and subsequent GFL debut, she remains active in various endeavors. She co-hosts a podcast, “A Kickass Love Story,” with her husband Austin Vanderford, who made his UFC debut this past weekend.

With her diverse experience in combat sports and entertainment, fans highly anticipate VanZant’s return to MMA with GFL and Power Slap matchups.

Paige VanZant Slaps Back: Former UFC Star Returns to Power Slap Before GFL Debut

Paige VanZant Slaps Back Former UFC Star Returns to Power Slap Before GFL DebutFormer UFC star Paige VanZant is gearing up for another combat sports appearance before her highly anticipated return to…

Paige VanZant Slaps Back Former UFC Star Returns to Power Slap Before GFL Debut

Former UFC star Paige VanZant is gearing up for another combat sports appearance before her highly anticipated return to MMA. Paige VanZant is scheduled to face Mikael-Michelle Brown in a Power Slap event on March 7th at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.

Paige VanZant

This will be VanZant’s third appearance in Power Slap, following a victory in her debut against Christine Wolmarans last June and a draw against Chelsea Dodson in October. The 30-year-old athlete has been exploring various combat sports since leaving the UFC in 2020, including bare-knuckle boxing, traditional boxing, pro wrestling, and more.

Paige VanZant Set for Power Slap Return Before GFL Debut edited

VanZant’s Power Slap bout serves as a prelude to her upcoming MMA comeback with the newly formed GFL. She recently signed with GFL and is expected to make her debut later this year against an opponent yet to be determined.

Paige VanZant Set for Power Slap Return Before GFL Debut 2

From Modeling to MMA

Before her fighting career took off, Paige VanZant pursued modeling and acting. She appeared in national commercials and modeled for athletic clothing brands such as Nike and Columbia Sportswear. However, a chance encounter with MMA in 2009 at Ken Shamrock’s Lion’s Den gym changed her career trajectory.

VanZant’s transition from modeling to fighting was unconventional, but she quickly made a name for herself in the UFC. Standing at 5’4″ and competing in the strawweight division, she amassed a 5-4 record in the promotion before exploring other opportunities. Now, she is a successful model who makes impressive money on various platforms.

Paige VanZant Set for Power Slap Return Before GFL Debut

As VanZant prepares for her Power Slap match and subsequent GFL debut, she remains active in various endeavors. She co-hosts a podcast, “A Kickass Love Story,” with her husband Austin Vanderford, who made his UFC debut this past weekend.

With her diverse experience in combat sports and entertainment, fans highly anticipate VanZant’s return to MMA with GFL and Power Slap matchups.

Exclusive | Find Your Calm in Chaos – Tai Emery’s Tools for Mental Clarity

"Find Your Calm in Chaos": Tai Emery's Tools for Mental ClarityPower Slap athlete, BKFC athlete, model, lingerie football player, and electrician, Tai Emery, shared her candid thoughts on mental…

"Find Your Calm in Chaos": Tai Emery's Tools for Mental Clarity

Power Slap athlete, BKFC athlete, model, lingerie football player, and electrician, Tai Emery, shared her candid thoughts on mental health and the importance of self-awareness in managing life’s challenges. Known for her toughness and personality, Tai Emery’s reflections offer insights into balancing chaos and calm, both inside and outside the ring.

Tai Emery

Tai Emery sat down with LowKickMMA’s Tim Wheaton to reflect on her journey. Emery emphasized the significance of understanding one’s strengths and finding environments where one can thrive. Drawing from her own experiences working with live wires as an electrician she explained how high-pressure situations often reveal a person’s true character. “People find out where they’re the most calm.”

Tai Emery also highlighted the importance of self-awareness and emotional regulation. She believes that identifying personal triggers and developing tools to manage them is crucial for mental well-being. Whether it’s journaling, exercising, listening to music, or spending time in nature, Emery advocates for finding personalized rituals that help maintain balance. “A happy fighter is a dangerous fighter,” she remarked, drawing parallels between mental health and peak performance.

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Tai Emery and Nicole Schaefer clashed in their debut ? Tune into #PowerSlap11 LIVE & FREE on @Rumble Sports 12pET/9aPT @???? ?????? | #riyadhseason

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“Sometimes when there’s a problem—whether it’s in the ring or out of the ring—you never solve the riddle in the same state you’re in. You know how you’ve lost your car keys and it’s always in the last place you look? No—it’s generally when you’re not looking that you find them. So sometimes just stepping away from something and chilling out—being in nature—can help. Like I said, there’s a small list of things people can do to stop thinking about the problem and actually solve it.”

For Tai Emery, maintaining balance amidst a demanding schedule, training, media commitments, social media responsibilities, and more, requires meticulous organization. She credits her use of a color-coded diary for helping her stay on track.

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“I think a tool for people—whether they are fighters or not—is just trying to figure out: one, their triggers; and two, how they control them. Whether it’s having some self-isolation, allowing yourself to process something, writing it down in a journal, listening to music, reading books, talking with friends, dancing, working out—find your own tools. These tools also become meditation: going for a walk, playing with your dog, being with your kids. These are all tools you can use to calm your emotions or bring yourself back to awareness.”

However, she acknowledges that what works for her might not work for everyone: “Tracking my weight or using a diary might not work for someone else… Everyone has their own tools.” Ultimately, Emery’s message is one of empowerment through self-discovery. She encourages others to embrace their unique traits and find joy in their pursuits. “When you’re happiest, people can get the most out of you, and you can get the most out of yourself.”

“Obviously, people find out where they’re the most calm. People want to do something that they’re good at; that’s just the truth. You can do something you’re not good at, but as a job and where you fall into, you’re generally doing something you’re naturally good at or have worked hard to be good at.”

UFC Squashes Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith’s Power Slap Dreams

UFC Squashes Anthony 'Lionheart' Smith's Power Slap DreamsDon’t expect to see Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith step up to the Power Slap podium anytime soon. Having lost three…

UFC Squashes Anthony 'Lionheart' Smith's Power Slap Dreams

Don’t expect to see Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith step up to the Power Slap podium anytime soon.

Having lost three of his last bouts inside the Octagon, Smith is gearing up for what will be the final fight of his career. During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, the one-time UFC title challenger revealed that the promotion promptly shut down the possibility of him competing at a Power Slap event.

“I tried. They told me no,” Smith told Helwani. “Straight up, I asked Hunter [Campbell] and he told me no. He wouldn’t even bring it to Dana. I don’t know. He said no.”

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While Power Slap has received its fair share of criticism from fighters and fans alike, ‘Lionheart’ has been one of the few to express his love for the sport.

“I cannot get enough of the Power Slap League,” Smith said on MMA on Sirius XM in February 2023. “My body is ready for a pay-per-view. I will pay for it. I don’t care how much it costs. I’ll pre-pay. I’ll pre-pay the next 10. I love it. I don’t know why. I can’t give you a reason – maybe because I was there during the pilot of it and I’ve seen it in person.”

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‘Lionheart’ ready to give it one more go inside the octagon

While we may never see Anthony Smith slap the sh*t out of someone on Rumble, we’ll at least get to see the perennial light heavyweight contender compete once more before laying down his gloves for good.

“It’s one more,” Smith said. “Win, lose, or draw, that’s it.”

No opponent has been announced, but Smith did confirm that his last stand will go down this April.

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‘Hope He Has Good People Around Him’ – Fans React To Anthony Smith Revealing Request To Compete In Power Slap After UFC Retirement

Following his second consecutive loss at UFC 310 last month, Anthony Smith suggested that it may be the final time that he steps inside the Octagon. “Lionheart” was incredibly emotional in that moment but the decision to put a full stop on his career is something that fans have expected for some time with Dana […]

Following his second consecutive loss at UFC 310 last month, Anthony Smith suggested that it may be the final time that he steps inside the Octagon. “Lionheart” was incredibly emotional in that moment but the decision to put a full stop on his career is something that fans have expected for some time with Dana White even saying after the event that he hoped it would be the end of the line.

It was clear from his walk out in Las Vegas on December 7 that the former light heavyweight title challenger wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be competing following the loss of a very close friend and former cornerman. He was stopped by Dominick Reyes in the second round but after having some time to reflect on the fight, he recently announced on The Ariel Helwani Show that he has a fight scheduled for April that will allow him to go out on his own terms.

“Yeah, it’s one more. Win, lose, or draw, that’s going to be it.”

During the same interview, Smith also said that he had inquired about the possibility of competing in a different arena once he lays the gloves down. Rather than swapping them for boxing gloves like several high-profile names have in recent times, the 36-year old was interesting in abandoning them for good by stepping into Power Slap.

Smith said that after posing the question to the UFC’s Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell, his request was denied. Considering that he he will have 59 pro MMA bouts under his belt by the end of April, this could be to stop other fighters who are at the end of their careers from taking more damage.

“Dude, I tried. They told me no, straight up. I asked Hunter, he told me no. He wouldn’t even bring it to Dana.”

Fight fans reacted on social media to Smith’s statement with a lot of messages from people who want the best for him.

“I sincerely hope he’s okay. I was worried about him after his last fight.”

“No one wants to see that :(“

“no plz… he got kids and family”

“Glad the UFC is looking out for him because doing Power Slap would be horrible for him. He already has his next job in the media secured.”

“On and off paper, this is for the best”

“I hope he has good people around him. He seems extremely troubled.”

UFC Star Paige VanZant Opens Up About Power Slap’s Post-Fight Party Culture Not Found Anywhere Else

Paige VanZant Opens Up About Power Slap's Post-Fight Party Culture Not Found Anywhere ElsePaige VanZant is a multi-faceted combat sports star. MMA has nothing on Power Slap. Recently, she shared her unique…

Paige VanZant Opens Up About Power Slap's Post-Fight Party Culture Not Found Anywhere Else

Paige VanZant is a multi-faceted combat sports star. MMA has nothing on Power Slap. Recently, she shared her unique experience with the culture surrounding Dana White’s Power Slap league, particularly the post-fight camaraderie that sets it apart from traditional MMA events.

Paige VanZant

In a recent podcast episode, Paige VanZant, alongside her partner, described the unusual nature of the social scene following a slap fight, saying, “We’re all at the bar afterward, drinking, hanging out, having a good time together. Like, bizarre! The world is so different than MMA.”

Slap Fighting or MMA

Having transitioned from UFC to Power Slap, VanZant highlighted the stark contrast between the two worlds. “Like, you do see, after fights—I mean, you don’t really see people… but everybody from Power Slap collectively agreed to go out drinking after, like everybody!” she explained, emphasizing the partying culture that is not commonly seen in MMA. “Yes, you don’t see that on MMA cards where every single person on the card is like, ‘All right, we’re all going to go drink together.’ It was crazy! But yeah, we all met at the bar, and we’re all drinking. It’s different.”

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Paige VanZant’s experience offers a glimpse into the hardcore community of Power Slap, a sport still in its infancy but gaining attention slowly. For someone who’s been through the ups and downs of MMA this level of camaraderie was surprising.

Paige VanZant

After a career marked by both challenges and achievements in the UFC, including notable victories over Felice Herrig and Bec Rawlings, VanZant has embraced a new chapter in her combat sports career. While her UFC career ended in 2020, she quickly found new outlets in bare-knuckle boxing and professional wrestling before making her mark in the slap fighting world. Her debut in Power Slap saw her dominate Christine Wolmarans, earning a unanimous decision with all judges scoring it 30-25 in her favor.

Now, VanZant seems to be enjoying her role in the new sport. And the post-fight shenanigans set Power Slap apart. Paige VanZant is both an athlete and a social media influencer with a highly successful modeling career. She recently signed with the GFL and will compete later this year in MMA.

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