The BKFC debut of Paige VanZant now has a date.
VanZant is gearing up for her big bare-knuckle boxing debut. The former UFC fighter tested free agency after suffering a first-round submission loss to Amanda Ribas. While VanZant’s husband, Austin Vanderford, admits he wanted to see “12 Gauge” join him on the Bellator roster, he knew the money offered by BKFC was too great for her to pass on. It didn’t take long for VanZant to sign on the dotted line.
BKFC President David Feldman spoke to MMAFighting.com and revealed that VanZant’s BKFC debut is set for February 5. An opponent has not been decided.
“Yeah we’re going to do the Friday before the Super Bowl, right around the Super Bowl, where it’s going to be. It’s going to be a great event for us. We’re going to do Friday, Feb. 5, Paige VanZant, that will be her debut for us.
“I think it’s really going to be a really good coming out party for Paige’s debut and for BKFC in general to be around the mainstream sports media. Every sports media in the world will be there, and I think we’re going to get the attention of a lot of them that weekend. It’s going to be a great weekend for us and a great debut for Paige VanZant.”
The initial plan was for VanZant to compete on November 14. That didn’t materialize but BKFC has booked an event that will take place one night prior to the initially scheduled date. It’ll be headlined by a BKFC Lightweight Title fight between champion Luis Palomino and Jim Alers.