The return of UFC flyweight Paige VanZant has reached another roadblock after an unsuccessful initial surgery on her right arm.
VanZant who is billed out of Portland, Oregon, recently underwent surgery that involved the installation of a plate and seven more screws. The 24-year-old fighter injured her right arm last January in a loss to Jessica-Rose Clark.
Retiring Is Not An Option
Despite the nagging injury, VanZant has made it crystal that she will be returning to the Octagon in the near future. She currently holds a professional mixed-martial art record of 7-4 (win-loss).
"I will take the time off to heal this go around. I will be back to the UFC and I will fight many more fights in the future," VanZant promised.
The 125-pound MMA fighter is expected to be sidelined in any upcoming UFC-sanctioned events. On the other hand, her fiancé Austin Vanderford will be competing in the Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series scheduled on July 17.
No Timetable For Her Return
According to MMA Weekly, there still no timetable as to when VanZant will return to in-ring competition. The report added that the former 115-pound cog will be missing several months due to the seriousness of her injury. She will undergo a second surgery this July.
This would be also a perfect time for VanZant to re-evaluate her previous four matches. She has been training with Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, but Vanzant's work with the squad hasn't paid golden dividends after losing three of her last four bouts.
Additionally, VanZant hasn't been that impressive since joining the UFC. She sports a dismal 4-3 UFC record in her first seven bouts with the company.
Regardless of her mediocre record, VanZant made a strong impression at the start of her UFC career by winning her first three fights. She defeated Kailin Curran via a third-round technical knockout in her debut four years ago before beating Felice Herrig and Alex Chambers in 2015.
She has lost to Rose Namajunas, Michelle Waterson, and recently to Clark since then. Her last victory came in August 2016, when she beat Bec Rawlings via a second-round technical knockout.
Nicknamed as the 12 Gauge, VanZant's fighting style is described by UFC pundits as well-rounded. Currently, the Newberg, Oregon, native has a striking rate of 39 percent, 32 percent submission average, and a 29 percent takedown rate.
VanZant, who turned professional, is a big fan of Ronda Rousey. She has also competed in ABC's competition known as the Dancing with the Stars, wherein she finished second.
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