UNCASVILLE, Conn. – It’s only been about three years since Austin Vanderford got a submission win on Dana White’s Contender Series, but wasn’t good enough to get a fight in the UFC.
When Vanderford fought Angelo Trevino on a DWCS card in July 2018, he was 4-0 – and criticized for getting a shot on the UFC tryout show just because his girlfriend was Paige VanZant, who at the time was one of the UFC’s most popular women fighters.
These days, a DWCS stoppage win is almost a lock to get into the UFC. But Vanderford’s second-round rear-naked choke win was passed over by White, and he found himself again looking for a major-promotion home.
Vanderford found it with Bellator a few months later, and his 5-0 start at middleweight and unbeaten overall record now has culminated in a title shot. After Gegard Mousasi’s (48-7-2 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) third-round TKO of John Salter (18-5 MMA, 8-2 BMMA) in Friday’s Bellator 264 main event at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., Vanderford (11-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) was on hand to get announced as Mousasi’s next title challenger and face off with him in the cage.
Even Vanderford seems to understand his ascension was quick.
“When I signed (with Bellator), did we think ‘Mr. VanZant’ would be up here fighting for the title five fights into his Bellator career?” Vanderford asked MMA Junkie after Bellator 264. “I don’t think a lot of people did. I got doubted a lot. But I’m here, I’m 11-0, and I’m excited to go out and test myself.”
Vanderford said critics continue to doubt him, even after his win over the highly touted Fabian Edwards in May. Mousasi joked at his post-fight news conference that he wasn’t quite sure who Vanderford was and wasn’t sure how to pronounce his name.
And playful little jabs like that are fine with Vanderford, who said he’ll have a chance to prove to people he’s not just married to a famous fighter. Since he first arrived on the scene, Vanderford and VanZant have gotten married, and VanZant has left the UFC to try her hands in the bareknuckle boxing game.
“One thing that’s changed is I’m Paige VanZant’s husband now. I run with it,” Vanderford said. “People doubt me, and they can continue to do that. But I feel like I’ve gone out there and proven it against Fabian Edwards that I’m a dog and I’m going to hurt people.
“… Hasn’t that been my entire career? I’m ‘only Paige VanZant’s husband,’ I’m only here because of that opportunity … it doesn’t faze me. (Mousasi will) find out. I’ve got all the respect in the world for Gegard, too. Personally, I think he’s the best middleweight in the world and I’m excited to go out there and take that spot from him.”
Austin Vanderford reflects on quick rise from ‘Mr. VanZant’ to Bellator title challenger