‘Coming to an island close to you’: UFC’s Paige VanZant FINALLY teases struggle after spending covid lockdown coaching & posting nudes

After greater than a yr exterior the octagon, UFC’s Paige VanZant has hinted she is lastly set for a return by teasing followers with a comeback submit on Instagram.

VanZant’s final outing was a submission victory over Rachel Ostovich of their flyweight bout at UFC Struggle Evening 143 in Brooklyn, manner again in January of final yr.

That snapped a two-fight dropping streak for ’12 Gauge,’ however she suffered an arm fracture in coaching not lengthy after – a part of long-running issues stemming from an unique break sustained in 2018.

Following surgical procedure, a number of comeback bouts had been mooted and ‘PVZ’ lastly appeared set to finish the remaining struggle on her present UFC contract when she was slated to face Amanda Ribas in Brasilia in March of this yr. 

Nonetheless, VanZant’s damage woes struck once more as she was pressured out of the struggle, with Ribas occurring to select up a dominant victory over substitute Randa Markos.

Now although, VanZant has lastly signaled one other struggle is on the horizon in an Instagram submit to her 2.5 million followers on Thursday.

“Coming to an island close to you…….,” wrote VanZant, who shared a photograph of herself draped within the US flag. 

The message will likely be taken as a transparent reference to UFC boss Dana White’s plans to host occasions on a particular ‘Struggle Island’ within the coming months – one thing which PVZ has beforehand mentioned she is down for.

I’ll struggle on an island too!! @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 @ufc

— Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant) April 7, 2020

There is no such thing as a official phrase on who VanZant’s opponent is, though stories in US MMA media state that VanZant and Ribas have verbally agreed to throw down on July 11 at an as-yet undetermined UFC occasion. 

Following her victory again in March, Ribas mentioned she would nonetheless be prepared to face the girl she was initially scheduled to struggle that night time.

“I want your restoration is de facto good, as a result of I nonetheless wish to struggle with you,” Ribas mentioned.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s 115[lbs], or 125[lbs] to get well higher. It’s OK. It’s informal.”  

VanZant mentioned in April that she is seeking to full the ultimate struggle on her present UFC deal, then negotiate one other contract whereas present process extra surgical procedure to lastly repair her damage troubles by having the plate faraway from her proper arm.

Many MMA followers will likely be relieved that PVZ – who boasts an Eight-Four file – is nearing an octagon return, having grown used to seeing her do most of her preventing within the gymnasium up to now 15 months.   

Together with husband and fellow MMA fighter Austin Vanderford, VanZant has additionally spent the coronavirus lockdown sharing a collection of bare footage which have helped burnish her Instagram numbers – the most recent of which got here not lengthy earlier than she teased her comeback. 

The photographs, nonetheless, have supplied ammunition for the likes of UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes, who has claimed VanZant stays on the UFC roster purely for her seems to be quite than any preventing abilities. 

By lastly ending her enforced octagon exile – as she has now hinted – VanZant would no less than acquire a chance to deal one other blow to Blaydes and related detractors. 

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