Former UFC fighter Paige VanZant has booked her debut for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships with a showdown scheduled against Britain Hart on Feb. 5.
Multiple people with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Thursday after VanZant revealed on social media that she had signed a bout agreement for a fight.
BKFC president David Feldman previously told MMA Fighting he was targeting the Feb. 5 card for VanZant’s debut, and Hart was one of the leading candidates to land the fight.
Hart is a veteran of BKFC with three previous appearances in the promotion including a recent TKO win over Randine Elkholm. She has also faced BKFC veterans Bec Rawlings and Christine Ferea in past fights with the promotion.
She will now welcome VanZant to the BKFC ring as the former UFC contender makes her move from MMA to bare-knuckle fighting after inking a four-fight deal with the promotion in 2020.
Following the conclusion of her UFC contract in July, VanZant wasted no time testing free agency and finding a new home with BKFC.
“It was the opportunity I was excited about,” VanZant told MMA Fighting after signing with the promotion. “I’ve been a fan of their sport and it’s something that I’m really going to be able to show off my striking. If you look at my MMA career, my biggest downfall has been my jiu-jitsu and my striking has been my passion. I’m so excited to show that off.”
VanZant now gets the opportunity display her hands when she clashes with Hart as part of BKFC’s upcoming card on Feb. 5.
