The former UFC fighter Paige VanZant was shocked and rocked after a big hit by adult star actress and influencer-turned-boxer Elle Brooke. The punch dropped her to the floor in the opening round at the MF&DAZN:X Series 15 in Houston, Texas.
The fight marks VanZant professional boxing debut, but she is, without a doubt, ready to take on more challenges. The fighter had previously competed in the Bare Knuckle fighting championship, but she is more popular and known for her UFC career, which began at the age of 19.
During her short UFC career, the fighter received some pretty big accolades, like the Fight of the Night title at the UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson and a sponsorship deal with Reebok. ‘12 Gauge’ became a fast-rising sensation in the strawweight division and was soon headlining her first UFC event against future champion Rose Namajunas in 2015. She also submitted Thug Rose with a rear naked choke in the fifth round, but it seemed like her career fizzled out after this. She soon lost to Michelle Waterson in her last strawweight fight and finally made her departure after her UFC 251 submission loss in 2020.
VanZant decided to make a comeback in the boxing ring and was very confident, but she soon got the shock of a lifetime after getting dropped by middleweight title holder and influencer Elle Brooke.
The match began with a vicious right hand that knocked VanZant out and almost took her out in the first round. However, she was able to recover before the ten-count rundown. She regained composure and stayed on the attack for the remainder of the minutes, but Brooke remained on guard and on her feet.
‘12 Gauge’ came in with a huge shot that rocked Brooke in round two. The defending champion ended up clinching with VanZant to give herself time to recover. But her opponent tried to wriggle through. Brooke soon started to look exhausted, and Vanzant doubled down and fired powerful punches and combos that Brooke struggled to keep up with.
Brook stayed in the fight and kept her defenses up, but she managed to land quick, precise strikes that disturbed VanZant. VanZant landed a nice uppercut that left Brooke bleeding. The two continued to exchange blows before the match finally came to a close with a draw.
Both fighters acknowledge how difficult and challenging their opponent was after the match.
“Honestly, I said it would be a tough fight the whole camp,” VanZant said after the boxing match. “ I knew how tough she was and took the fight for a reason. I was excited and watched her past fights. I knew it’d be tough. It is what it is. It sets up the perfect rematch.
“I signed a multi-fight contract for a reason. It looks like we’re going to do it one more time, I think in Dubai it sounds like.”
Brooke, on the other hand, kept her head up high as he held onto her championship belt.
Although the fighter has had a past as an influencer and social media star, she doesn’t seem to let that affect her and is always ready to take on more challenges.
“It’s one of those things where you have to rematch it. Because in there, you’re getting hit, but you’re also hitting. I don’t think I’m experienced enough to think yeah. I’m 100 percent winning this, but with the knockdown. I could see me winning it but I have to watch it back. I was just saying to Paige we get a big money rematch! This is perfect!”
