Paige VanZant surprised many people when she moved on from the UFC back in 2020. She's now fighting in bare-knuckle boxing with BKFC and she has now added pro wrestling by signing with AEW recently.

Paige VanZant has been getting a lot of criticism for making money outside of fighting and many questioned her motivation in the UFC. Today, she finds herself in an excellent position financially.

“I could retire tomorrow and be financially free, and my kids would be pretty close to being financially free,” VanZant said on The Fighter vs. The Writer.

Being in the UFC was a big benefit as Paige VanZant was able to build up her name and become the star she is today. Leaving the organization was actually what offered her the most amount of freedom.

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“I’m fortunate enough, I did build my name up,” VanZant said. “I know how hard I worked in the UFC and I know how much dedication I had. I did all the appearances nobody else wanted to do. I traveled the world. Every weekend, I was in a different state doing appearances. I was fortunate enough, I did have that grind mentality to build my name up. I did social media, ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ really did what I could to build myself as a business and as a brand.

“So then when my contract ended with the UFC, I was able to go out there and be fortunate enough to sign with BKFC. They offered me a great contract. It opened the doors to all these other things that I wasn’t really able to do when I was with the UFC.”

There are no negative feelings towards the UFC but Paige VanZant needed to leave. The business side of things was not great with the organization.

“Of course, I love the UFC,” VanZant said. “I love the organization. There’s a reason they are as successful as they are. There’s a reason they were able to get to this level. They have a well-oiled machine and they’re very, very good at it.

“But I know in my heart that I will never fight for them again, just because they don’t pay enough. I don’t see the benefit of going back to the UFC. Right now, I’m fortunate enough, I built myself up to a specific place and I can take that and use it wherever I go.”