"You hide your depression well" - Fans berate Paige VanZant online for Power Slap "downfall"

Former UFC fighter Paige VanZant's upcoming Power Slap debut has sparked controversy online. The announcement of VanZant's slap-fighting debut against Christine Wolmarans at Power Slap 8 came during the recent UFC Saudi Arabia event.

The 30-year-old, who rose to fame as a promising prospect in the UFC during the mid-2010s, has since carved a unique path in combat sports. While maintaining an active social media presence and venturing into OnlyF*ns, VanZant also competed in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) and Misfits Boxing events.

However, VanZant's recent fight record has been lackluster. Her last victory came in a 2019 UFC submission win against Rachael Ostovich. Since then, she's lost two BKFC fights and drawn a split decision in her Misfits Boxing debut against fellow social media personality Elle Brooke.

VanZant shared her excitement on Instagram, celebrating with LMFAO's "Shots." However, the comments section revealed a divide among fans.

"The downfall… I can’t believe it"

Another echoed the sentiment, writing:

"From UFC to a joke."

Another comment read:

"You hide your depression well."

Check out some of the fan reactions below:

Fans react to Paige VanZant's recent post.

Despite a recent decline in wins, VanZant remains a recognizable name in combat sports. Whether Power Slap proves to be a successful venture or another detour in her fighting career remains to be seen.

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Paige VanZant calls Power Slap "ultimate test of toughness"

Paige VanZant recently addressed the controversy surrounding her foray into Power Slap. The former UFC star cited the competition's surging popularity and her own relentless desire for a challenge as key factors in her decision.

VanZant recently explained her decision to join Power Slap at a UFC media event:

''I got called if I would do Power Slap, I said, ‘Absolutely,’ and that was it. Signed the contract and here I am to do Power Slap. I think it’s exciting for me because it’s like, listen, I am a gangster.”

Adding further, she said:

''They've [Power Slap] taken over. Everybody knows what it is. Everybody seen the highlight videos and a lot of people are,'no I would never do that' or they have mixed emotions about it all and for me, I'm like,'yeah I'd do that'. I look back at my UFC career, my bare-knuckle boxing career, everything that I’ve done, you can’t take away how tough I am, and this is like that ultimate test of toughness.''

Check out Paige VanZant's comments below: