{"id":356382,"date":"2020-07-17T08:50:26","date_gmt":"2020-07-17T15:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=356382"},"modified":"2020-07-17T08:50:26","modified_gmt":"2020-07-17T15:50:26","slug":"paige-vanzant-responds-to-dana-whites-comments-updates-on-free-agency-goals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/ufc\/paige-vanzant-responds-to-dana-whites-comments-updates-on-free-agency-goals\/","title":{"rendered":"Paige VanZant responds to Dana White’s comments, updates on free agency goals"},"content":{"rendered":"

UFC flyweight contender Paige VanZant is officially a free agent, and will begin discussing the next phase of her career with the UFC and any other interested promotions.<\/p>\n

VanZant fulfilled the final obligation of her latest UFC contract at UFC 251, where she took on the streaking Amanda Ribas. Unfortunately for the fan favorite and her legions of supporters, this fight didn’t go as she planned, as she was submitted in the first round.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Damon Martin of MMA Fighting<\/a>, VanZant acknowledged that the UFC gave her a very tough matchup for the final fight of her contract.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the exact fight the UFC wanted,\u201d VanZant said. \u201cThey kind of do this to people when they\u2019re on the last fight on their contract. They give them, like, the perfect style matchup. I went against somebody, she\u2019s 10-1, I\u2019ve almost had layoffs, calculating like three years I\u2019ve only been able to fight once cause I keep getting injured.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, it was the very toughest opponent they could give me for my one returning fight I had left. I didn\u2019t play into what the UFC wanted. Of course, I still had confidence going into it. Amanda was so talented. I\u2019m so excited to see where her career goes.\u201d<\/p>\n

After UFC 251 concluded, White suggested that VanZant should “definitely”<\/a> test free agency, seemingly put-off by the flyweight’s gripes regarding her pay.<\/p>\n

VanZant says White’s comments are “unfortunate,” and contrary to the relationship she thought they had.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I didn\u2019t actually see specifically the quote or what he said. I try not to pay attention too much,\u201d VanZant said. \u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate because I feel like I have a really good relationship with Dana.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I thought we were closer friends and he could text me or call me,” VanZant continued. “Something to have a little bit of compassion, something to communicate with me personally but maybe he will. We just don\u2019t know. I\u2019m sure it\u2019s an uncomfortable situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cDana\u2019s comments, what I\u2019m hearing you say, he wants me to test free agency then hopefully they just let me go then,\u201d she added. \u201cIf that\u2019s how they feel, then they\u2019ll just let me be free.\u201d<\/p>\n

While it’s certainly possible VanZant will ink a new deal with the UFC\u2014she remains a big star and a legitimately talented fighter<\/a>\u2014it’s also possible she will sign with another promotion like Bellator or ONE Championship. Her priority, she told MMA Fighting, is finding a promotion that will work with her as she chases her goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly for me and that\u2019s something I want to go into negotiations, whoever it\u2019s with, I want to know that they want me to be part of their family,\u201d VanZant said. \u201cI want to work for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to open a relationship where I can work \u2014 whether that\u2019s working the desk or reporting or doing behind-the-scenes work. I have a passion for camera and TV work as well. So I would love if I could more than just fight for a promotion. I ultimately want to be part of the family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where do you think Paige VanZant will end up?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UFC flyweight contender Paige VanZant is officially a free agent, and will begin discussing the next phase of her career with the UFC and any other interested promotions. VanZant fulfilled the final obligation of her latest UFC contract at UFC 251, where she took on the streaking Amanda Ribas. Unfortunately for the fan favorite and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54430,"featured_media":356386,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[10124,39610],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nPaige VanZant responds to Dana White's comments, updates on free agency goals | BJPenn.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Paige VanZant is officially a free agent, and will begin discussing the next phase of her career with the UFC and any other interested promotions.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/ufc\/paige-vanzant-responds-to-dana-whites-comments-updates-on-free-agency-goals\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta 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