Paige VanZant has failed to make the bare-knuckle boxing rankings after losing her first two fights in the sport.
The former UFC star made her debut in February last year after leaving the top MMA promotion. But she lost an unanimous decision to boxer Britain Hart before making her way back to the squared circle to face Rachael Ostovich in a rematch of their UFC bout from two years prior.
However, VanZant couldn't replicate the success of her first bout with Ostovich and lost another unanimous decision, which led her to contemplate quitting the sport. But she has vowed to return, and is expected to do so this summer with a touted July 9 card in London seemingly her next step.
And she'll need to win that return fight if she is to have any chance of making the new Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship rankings. She lost out on making the top five at flyweight to Hart, who is ranked No.1, as well as Ostovich, who is No.3 after her sole win in the sport. The rest of the line-up includes No.2-ranked Taylor Starling, No.4 Jenny Savage and former UFC star Pearl Gonzalez at No.5.
VanZant posted a defiant social media message after her loss to Ostovich, declaring that she would fight again. "My story is full of setbacks, road blocks and detours," she said. "But, it is also filled with major comebacks, peace in my soul and a grace that saved my life.
"I promise you this, I would endure this pain everyday of my life over the pain of regret. I am going to keep chasing my dream one step at a time. 99.9 per cent of the people on earth would not dare do what I do. This story will be even better then my first. And if you haven’t read my book before click the link in my bio.
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"That is real pain. This is just a bad chapter. And to anyone out there struggling. Pain is only for a moment. The world may be dark and love to hate on you, but darkness does not drive out darkness only light can do that."
VanZant is currently in training for her professional wrestling debut after signing with All Elite Wrestling earlier this month. Her husband Austin Vanderford recently fought for the Bellator middleweight title, and is expected back in the cage later this year.
Another ex-UFC star to miss out was the fan-favourite Mike Perry. He missed out on light heavyweight's top five seemingly by the skin of his teeth to Isaac Doolittle, who has a 2-0 record.
Perry won his Triad Combat Rules debut against Michael Seals before beating Julian Lane in his BKFC bow three months later, but it wasn't enough to earn him a spot on the list, which is put together by an independent panel of journalists.
