Paige VanZant Re-Injures Arm, Set For Surgery

Paige VanZant is slated to go under the knife despite being in the middle of training for her UFC return.

VanZant told ESPN that she is scheduled to undergo surgery on her right arm next Thursday. This comes after she re-injured the limb earlier this year. According to ESPN, she fractured her arm during a sparring session in January, and at the time, was told she would not require surgery. This gave her hope to make a return to the Octagon next month, but that won’t be the case.

She is expected to be sidelined for approximately three months. This comes at a time where VanZant desperately desired to get a fight booked, as she only has one fight left on her UFC contract, but intends to fight it out. With being sidelined so often, she has fought only twice in the last 29 months.

Paige VanZant To Undergo Surgery

“I actually sparred last month and was doing strength and conditioning,” VanZant said. “I wanted to be on the UFC card on July 20 in Texas, but my chiropractor wanted me to get my arm checked out again before accepting a fight – I saw a surgeon who works with the Portland Trailblazers and he told me, ‘Yes, you 100 percent need surgery.'”

“After the second surgery, I said, ‘If I break my arm again, I’m quitting. I’m just not meant to fight,'” VanZant said. “But now that I’ve done it again, I’m at a point where it’s like, ‘No. I just don’t give a s— anymore. My stupid arm is not going to stop me.’ I need one more surgery, and I’m going to be fine.”

“PVZ” had her original surgery shortly after a flyweight contest at the UFC St. Louis (also known as UFC Fight Night 124) event for a broken arm. The prospect was slated to have a fight with Poliana Botelho at the UFC 236 pay-per-view (PPV) event in April. However, that fight got nixed.