Austin Vanderford and Paige VanZant characterize probably the most distinguished partnerships in fashionable combined martial arts. Individually, every has constructed a particular profession in fight sports activities; collectively.
Austin Vanderford
Austin Vanderford moved as an toddler to Ninilchik, Alaska, the place he started wrestling in highschool. He claimed back-to-back Alaska State Wrestling Championships in 2006 and 2007 earlier than incomes an NAIA nationwide title at Southern Oregon College in 2012. After graduating with a bachelor’s diploma, he spent two years teaching at his alma mater. Vanderford turned skilled in MMA in 2017, compiling an undefeated 6–0 document on the regional circuit earlier than signing with Bellator MMA. In February 2025, he made his UFC debut, stopping Nikolay Veretennikov within the second spherical to enhance to eight–2 and showcase his balanced talent set, which incorporates 5 knockout and three submission victories.
Austin Vanderford is scheduled to struggle Ramiz Brahimaj at UFC 320 on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas. A number of shops checklist the bout on the prelims and be aware it as Vanderford’s second UFC look after his February debut win over Nikolay Veretennikov.
Paige VanZant
Paige VanZant grew up dancing at her household’s studio. After enduring bullying in highschool, she took up boxing for self-defense and transitioned into MMA at age 18, successful her novice debut. VanZant made her skilled debut in 2012 and joined the UFC’s inaugural strawweight roster in 2014. She earned “Combat of the Evening” honors in her debut, a third-round TKO of Kailin Curran. Over her tenure with the UFC, she compiled an 8–5 MMA document, later branching into bare-knuckle boxing, skilled wrestling with AEW, and actuality tv, together with Dancing with the Stars and Chopped.
The couple met in 2017 by means of mutual involvement within the MMA neighborhood and married in 2018. Their relationship extends into skilled collaboration through their podcast, A Kick-Ass Love Story, the place they focus on struggle preparation, profession challenges, and private milestones. Their dynamic demonstrates mutual respect for one another’s craft: Vanderford typically credit VanZant’s resilience in overcoming accidents and weight-cut struggles, whereas VanZant highlights Vanderford’s disciplined strategy to coaching and competitors.
Paige VanZant has no confirmed subsequent struggle date launched throughout Energy Slap, GFL, BKFC, or Soiled Boxing; monitoring for an up to date announcement following her June withdrawal.
Financially, the pair instructions a mixed web price estimated at $6 million, derived from struggle purses, sponsorships, media appearances, and VanZant’s ventures on social media and different websites. They keep a rigorous coaching schedule at American High Crew Portland, balancing power and conditioning, grappling, and placing periods. Each emphasize psychological preparation, viewing setbacks as alternatives for development and leveraging one another’s experiences to refine strategies and methods.
Outdoors the gymnasium, the duo engages in philanthropy and content material creation. They host seminars on bullying prevention and self-defence, and help youth wrestling applications in Alaska and Oregon. Their social media channels, which doc coaching, journey, and each day life, underscore a dedication to authenticity and reference to followers.
