All The Babes
Paige VanZant
Also known as 12 Gauge, Paige Michelle Sletten, Paige Michelle Sletten-VanZant, Paige Vanderford
Career
Active 2012 – present
Biography
About Paige VanZant
With her blonde hair, blue eyes, and athletic build, Paige VanZant stands 5'4" and carries herself with the confidence of someone who has fought in the UFC, the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, and on national television. She is a mixed-race American born in Dundee, Oregon, on March 26, 1994, and raised in nearby Dayton. Her early years were spent dancing ballet, jazz, and hip hop for over 13 years, a background she credits with her flexible and agile movements in the ring. She was a tomboy who loved dirt bikes and fishing, and her father nicknamed her "12 Gauge" because of her love of shooting and hunting.
VanZant's path to combat sports began when her family moved to Sparks, Nevada, and she stumbled upon UFC veteran Ken Shamrock's gym while looking for a dance studio. She started training in boxing and martial arts, and after winning an amateur fight at 18, she made her professional MMA debut on June 30, 2012. She went on to compete in Invicta FC and then signed with the UFC in December 2013, becoming one of the first women in the new strawweight division. Her UFC debut in 2014 earned Fight of the Night honors, and she later won Performance of the Night bonuses for a flying head kick knockout of Bec Rawlings and an armbar submission of Rachael Ostovich. She fought through injuries, including multiple fractures to her right arm, and reached a ranking of No. 12 in the strawweight division before moving up to flyweight.
In August 2020, VanZant signed a four-bout contract with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, reportedly worth over $1 million, making her debut in February 2021. She lost both of her BKFC fights, including a rematch with Ostovich, and afterward expressed interest in returning to MMA. Outside of fighting, she has appeared on Dancing with the Stars and won a celebrity cooking competition on Chopped, and she has modeled for Nike and Columbia Sportswear. In 2018, she confirmed she had a breast augmentation, saying, "I'm a girl and always wanted my own boobs. They never came so I bought them." She married fellow MMA fighter Austin Vanderford in September 2018.
VanZant's career has evolved to include acting, authoring, podcasting, and a strong presence on social media, where she has millions of followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. She also has a linked OnlyFans account where she shares exclusive content. With her mix of athletic achievements, media appearances, and entrepreneurial ventures, she remains a recognizable figure in sports and entertainment.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Years Active
- 2012-present (started around 18 years old; 14 years active)
- Birthplace
- Dundee, Oregon, United States
- Ethnicity
- Mixed-race (primarily Caucasian)
Body
- Hair Color
- Blonde
- Eye Color
- Blue
- Weight
- 134 lbs (or 61 kg)
- Measurements
- 34–26–36 (B–W–H) · WHR 0.72
- Bra/Cup Size
- 34C show conversions - UK: 34C, EU: 75C, AU: 12C, JP: 75C
- Boobs
- Fake/Enhanced
- Tattoos
- Various
- Piercings
- Both nipples; Left nostril
Performances
- Solo
- Nudity (Full)
- Masturbation
Extra
- Instagram Followers
- 3.1m (as of March 2026)
Frequently asked
How did Paige VanZant get her nickname "12 Gauge"?
Her father nicknamed her "12 Gauge" because of her love of shooting and hunting.
What is Paige VanZant's fighting style?
She is known for aggressive grappling, ground-and-pound, and clinch striking, often using knees, elbows, and throws. She credits her dance background for her flexible and agile movements, which she demonstrated with a flying head kick knockout in the UFC.
Did Paige VanZant ever compete on The Ultimate Fighter?
She was announced as a cast member for the reality series in December 2013, but was turned away on March 31, 2014, because she was only 20 years old, below the minimum age of 21 required due to alcohol in the house.
Has Paige VanZant appeared on any television shows outside of fighting?
Yes, she competed on Dancing with the Stars and won an episode of the Food Network's Chopped, where she edged out Olympic gold medalist Dorothy Hamill in the dessert round.
What are some of Paige VanZant's business ventures?
She is an author, podcaster, and influencer, and she has modeled for Nike and Columbia Sportswear. She also has a linked OnlyFans account.
Did you know
- VanZant changed her surname legally from Sletten to VanZant after being bullied in high school; students had mocked her name as "Slutton."
- Her father nicknamed her "12 Gauge" because of her love of shooting and hunting.
- She has a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
- She won her UFC debut at age 20, and the fight earned Fight of the Night honors.
- In May 2018, she confirmed she had a breast augmentation, saying, "I'm a girl and always wanted my own boobs. They never came so I bought them."
- She signed a four-bout contract with BKFC reportedly worth over $1 million.
- She has modeled for Nike and Columbia Sportswear.
- She married Austin Vanderford, a professional MMA fighter and two-time NAIA All-American, in September 2018.
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