MMA star Paige VanZant in storm over ‘toxic’ comment
Former fighter Paige VanZant is in the middle of an extraordinary altercation in a huge twist to claims about her unexpected fortune.
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Controversial UFC fighter Sean Strickland has gone on an unhinged rant after an extraordinary war of words surrounding former MMA fighter Paige VanZant.
The UFC middleweight champion has sparked outrage with a series of sexist comments after a storm erupted over VanZant’s boast about the money she makes in her life as an adult content entertainer.
VanZant, 29, caused a stir this week when he said she made more money in 24 hours through her X-rated subscription website than she did her entire fighting career.
Speaking with Barstool Sports’ Glenny Balls on the Only Stans podcast, VanZant said that she has earned a “life-changing” amount of money.
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Her comments have triggered some fighters across the combat sport world.
Strickland, who stunned the world in Sydney in September when he dethroned Israel Adesanya, lashed out at VanZant on Twitter.
“Paige Vanzant said she made more on only fans in 24 hours than she did in the UFC. Let’s unpack,” he posted.
“1. You were signed because you’re hot.
“2. Women’s mma is lame.
“3. Men will pay more to see you naked than to watch you fight. Stay in school kids, fighting sucks lol.”
It is far from the first time Strickland has made offensive comments. While in Sydney he made a series of sexist remarks.
Former flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko has now swiped back at Strickland.
“Interesting unpack here,” she posted.
“That looks more like an offended kid, who got less money in his entire fighter career than female fighters do!
“Good try, maybe UFC will see that and add some cash to your purse next time. But for now naked is you are.”
The American fighter responded on Sunday by posting: “Valentina you lost to a girl who pulls guard, you look like you learned striking from a YouTube video.
“LMAO female MMA. It’s like watching children fight it’s fun but we all know it’s trash. You only have a job because you know when to put heels on and take off your clothes.”
Shevchenko continued the feud with another post.
“Look like you was beaten by a girl in the gym and now you are offended to all women in the world,” the Russian fighter wrote.
“Poor baby boy. Train harder to not lose to a girl.”
Strickland then appeared to make an apology while making some extraordinary comments about his mental state.
“Just had a 10 round death match.. It was glorious BUT all the demons are gone and the voices in my head are giving me peace now,” he wrote.
“Valentina you’re right, you have good head kicks. Next time you’re in Vegas lets go shooting. Have a great day:).”
He followed that up with another post where he suggested he will consider medication to help with his mental “demons”.
“It’s the demons man... It’s not me,” he wrote.
“If I don’t spar my brain turns into this toxic I want the world to burn... the moment I get a really good sparring session I see clearly again.... IDK maybe one day I’ll try medication or drugs.”
He followed that up with a video where he again spoke openly about his mental concerns.
“It’s the strangest f***ing thing. Like I don’t see the world as it is,” he said in the social media video.
“Like I get into this head space where like my body just f***ing craves murder. Like I could kill a homeless man right now and it would bring me f***ing joy.
“I don’t even know what’s happening to me. In the moment I spar everything’s clear. Like I get into this headspace guys where... if I get into a rack with somebody and it’s completely different from how it was.
“My brain is completely different. And in the moment I spar, all the f***ing demons go away. Everything’s good.
“Remember, a sparring session per day keeps the bodies away.”
The UFC is yet to comment on the comments, but Strickland is still listed to defend his championship belt against Dricus De Plessis at UFC 297 in Toronto in January.
Born dirt poor, the 31-year-old American was raised by an abusive father and a “white supremacist” grandfather.
Strickland has admitted to being a neo-Nazi during his youth and said he was a rage-filled and confused teenager until he discovered MMA saying he is on a path to “repentance”.
He has stated previously: “If I wasn’t in the UFC, I’d probably be cooking meth in a trailer”.
VanZant, meanwhile, says she has no regrets about giving up the fighting game.
“I did extremely well. It was life-changing money,” she said of her career switch.
“I did that for about two years. My content started very PG, I was doing everything like Instagram, plus a little bit extra.
“As far as OnlyFans girls, I am kind of in a different lane coming from a combat sport, there is not a ton of us.”
Originally published as MMA star Paige VanZant in storm over ‘toxic’ comment
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