The UFC fighter explains how mixed martial arts has contributed to her dealing with the trauma of being sexually assaulted as a teenager and how she is using her celebrity status to help other victims of bullying and abuse
‘I’m definitely not a quitter,” Paige VanZant says as the Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter explains why, in January, she refused to give up after she broke her arm in the first round but battled on for 10 minutes before losing a decision to Jessica-Rose Clark in St Louis. Her courage that night, and in other bouts, has its roots in a dark history.
VanZant has also spoken of suffering years of bullying and a harrowing gang-rape as a 14-year-old in Oregon. Yet she has been derided by hardcore mixed martial arts fans for being hyped ahead of better fighters because she is attractive and opens up the bloody business of cage fighting to a different audience.
Written by Donald McRae
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/aug/13/paige-vanzant-ufc-fighter-bullying-abuse under the title “Paige VanZant: ‘Fighting helped me realise I am a strong, talented woman’”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
