VanZant Has Plastic Surgeon ‘On Speed Dial’

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

When Paige VanZant signed a lucrative bare-knuckle contract, worth in excess of seven figures across four fights, the combat sports fan base heckled the former UFC strawweight over the dangers of facial lacerations, all-too-prevalent in gloveless competition.

Just ask these guys.

But what the critics failed to realize is that VanZant identities as a fighter and an athlete — not a model — so her priority is to put her prizefighting career ahead of her “cute” face. That’s according to her recent conversation with MMA Fighting.

“I understand people think I’m cute but I’m a fighter and an athlete first and foremost,” VanZant said. “A cut on your face always heals. I’ve been cut open before and people still think I’m pretty, and it hasn’t hurt my career yet. I feel like at this point, I’ll be paid well enough I can have plastic surgery. I have a plastic surgeon on speed dial and I can send him a text and say hey, you’ve got to fix me up.”

That reminds me of the Oldsmobile 442 I had in high school. I raced it up and down the highway and didn’t really care what damage I incurred because my brother-in-law was a mechanic. Then one day I bent the frame after crashing into a playground (long story).

Hopefully VanZant has better luck.

Anyway, we still don’t know when or where VanZant will make her debut for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) but early reports put “12 Gauge” in the ring at some point in the fall, though an opponent has yet to be revealed.

Maybe it’s time for this rematch?