“You Got Smoked In The First Round”-Dana White Compares Paige VanZant To Curtis Blaydes

Dana White comes out with a verdict on Paige VanZant and her future with the promotion.

Paige VanZant has, unfortunately, had an injury-stricken past few years. Breaking her arm 3 times hasn’t been easy on both, herself and the promotion. She has been out for a major chunk of time and finally made a comeback to the octagon at UFC 251.

Set at Yas Island in UAE’s Abu Dhabi on Sunday, July 12, this fight was Paige VanZant’s last as per her current contract. She would have no more obligated fights via UFC unless she went ahead and score a renewal or a new contract from the promotion.

VanZant took on Amanda Ribas in her final fight. The flyweight clash sets the tone for the event as the first fight on the main card. VanZant was stepping into the octagon after almost a year away from the sport and that seemed quite clear from her performance.

Amanda Ribas absolutely dominated the fight from the beginning. She didn’t give VanZant a moment to herself and kept the pressure on. Securing a takedown at the end of the first minute the fight was almost over for Paige. Locked in she was forced to tap out 2 minutes and 21 seconds into the first round. Amanda Ribas took this fight convincingly.

Dana White makes a statement about Paige VanZant and her future with the UFC

Now when the talk is about VanZant’s future with the UFC there is only one man with all the answers, Dana White. Speaking at the press conference he made it quite clear. He compared her situation to that of Curtis Blaydes. Referring to what Blaydes had to say about White and why he doesn’t like him.

Blaydes said, “He doesn’t like me for two, actually, three reasons. A, I speak my mind, he doesn’t like that. B, my style, what I bring to the Octagon. I’m grappling heavy. And C, because yeah I do believe I don’t get paid what I’m worth and I speak on that. So he’s just using this to try to make me feel bad I guess, so I won’t speak out again, but it’s not going to work.”

Dana White said, “I like Paige. It like Blaydes, when you talk all that stuff saying, ‘I’m Not being paid enough’ and all that, you know. Fighting inconsistently, one time in the last year and her injuries. And then you got smoked in the first round of this fight. She should definitely test free agency.”

White is quite clear about his decision. Do you agree with him?