Imagine grinding for years in the brutal world of MMA—taking punches, breaking bones, and clawing your way up—only to discover that one day of posting spicy pics online out-earns your entire career! That’s the bombshell Paige VanZant just dropped, and it’s shaking the fight game to its core. The former UFC star claims she’s pocketed more cash in a single 24-hour OnlyFans spree than she ever did in a decade of cage battles. Is this the ultimate power move or a savage indictment of fighter pay? Buckle up—we’re unpacking the jaw-dropping details of this wild ride!
The MMA Hustle: A Decade of Blood and Sweat
Paige VanZant stormed into MMA like a hurricane in 2013, a 19-year-old blonde bombshell with fists to match her looks. She signed with the UFC, racking up a 5-4 record over six years—nine fights of pure grit. Her highlight? A $132,500 paycheck for knocking out Bec Rawlings with a head kick in 2016 that went viral. Total UFC earnings? Around $564,000, per reports. Not bad for a mid-tier fighter who danced her way into fans’ hearts, right? But that’s just the start. After leaving UFC in 2020, she tried Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), going 0-2, and dabbled in AEW wrestling in 2022. Add it up—estimates peg her career haul at $600,000 to $700,000 over 10 years. A solid grind—until she dropped the OnlyFans bombshell.
The OnlyFans Bombshell: One Day Beats a Decade?
Here’s where it gets insane. On Barstool Sports’ Only Stans podcast in 2023, Paige let it slip: “I think I made more money in 24 hours on OnlyFans than I had in my entire fighting career combined.” Wait—what?! That’s over $700,000 in a single day—more than a decade of octagon wars! She’d hinted at “life-changing money” before, but this claim sent jaws to the floor. Launched in 2021 with tame content, her OnlyFans went full throttle by 2023—$9.99 a month for lingerie shots, sultry poses, and even niche stuff like armpit pics (yep, she’s spilled those weird fan requests). One day out-earning a career? If true, we’re talking millions—and the fight world’s still reeling.
Crunching the Numbers: Could She Really Pull It Off?
Let’s do the math. Paige’s got 3.2 million Instagram followers and a legion of MMA fans—mostly dudes who’ve followed her since her UFC days. If 100,000 subscribed at $9.99 on her OnlyFans debut day, that’s $999,000—nearly double her UFC cash—before tips or premium content. Insiders whisper she’s cleared millions since joining, and X users speculate her first-day haul topped $1 million. “Paige made bank in 24 hours—UFC never stood a chance!” one fan crowed. Exaggeration? Maybe. But with her star power and no-octagon overhead, it’s not hard to see how she’s laughing to the bank.
From Cage to Cash: Why OnlyFans Wins
Why the switch? Paige’s been vocal about MMA’s pay woes. “They told me I couldn’t earn more than a female champion,” she fumed about BKFC talks. Meanwhile, OnlyFans offers freedom—and fat stacks. “It’s hard to walk away,” she told MMA Junkie, admitting the stigma scared her at first. Now? She’s funding her family—husband Austin Vanderford included—with every sultry snap. “I grew up poor, became rich, but always feel poor,” she confessed. “Now I lift everyone up.” It’s not just cash—it’s control, something the fight game never gave her.
The Backlash: Haters vs. Hustlers
Not everyone’s cheering. UFC bad boy Sean Strickland took a swing: “You were signed because you’re hot—women’s MMA is lame, men pay more to see you naked.” Brutal! But fans clap back: “She’s smart—why bleed for peanuts when she can cash out?” Her pivot’s a middle finger to an industry that banked on her looks but shorted her wallet. Boxer Ebanie Bridges gets it—she’s said OnlyFans saved her from flipping burgers. For Paige, it’s a no-brainer: one day’s work trumps a decade of damage.
Still in the Game? The Fight Future Tease
Here’s the twist—she’s not fully retired. “It’s in my blood,” she told MMA Fighting, hinting at a comeback despite the cash flow. AEW’s Tony Khan wants her wrestling again, praising her “great attitude.” BKFC’s got her on contract, though her 0-2 record and a canceled 2022 bout suggest they’re not rushing her back. “If I stopped everything for a fight, I’d lose money,” she laughed. Translation: OnlyFans is the main event now—fighting’s just a side hustle.
The Big Picture: A New Era of Fame?
Paige’s revelation isn’t just a flex—it’s a wake-up call. March 9, 2025, and she’s still trending—not for knockouts, but for bankrolls. Is this the future for athletes? A slap to MMA’s face? Or a savvy move in a digital age? At 29, she’s not just surviving—she’s rewriting the playbook. From cage darling to OnlyFans queen, she’s traded gloves for glamour and won big. Haters can hate, but her wallet’s not complaining.
The Final Bell: Truth or Hype?
So, did one day really outshine a decade? Without hard receipts, we’re guessing—but her swagger says it’s close. Paige VanZant’s turned a career of punches into a fortune of pixels, and the world’s hooked. Is she the pioneer of a new hustle, or a sign of MMA’s pay crisis? One thing’s crystal clear: she’s counting cash while we’re counting clicks. This knockout’s far from over—stay tuned!
