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27th Sep 2017

Paige VanZant has experienced some shocking luck since pulling out of UFC 216

"When it rains, it pours."

Darragh Murphy

It takes a lot for Paige VanZant to pull out of a fight.

But, unfortunately, there was a lot wrong with the UFC prospect when she made the ultimate decision to withdraw from her upcoming flyweight debut against Jessica Eye at UFC 216.

VanZant is 1-2 in her last three fights, a record which inspired her to move up from her previous home of strawweight to try her hand in the newly formed 125lbs division for females in the UFC.

But the 23-year-old was advised by her doctor to pull out of the clash against Eye after re-aggravating a previous back injury in Jiu-Jitsu training but that’s not the only issue that VanZant is dealing with at the moment.

The Team Alpha Male fighter has revealed the laundry list of problems she’s currently struggling with and it’s no wonder that she won’t be competing in two weeks on the card which will be headlined by the interim lightweight title fight between Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee.

On top of a herniated disc, VanZant has been struck down with a double ear infection, a sinus infection, pink eye and a case of ringworm.

VanZant’s back injury will not require surgery and, after she completes an intensive physical therapy programme, she remains hopeful of fighting before the end of the year although her opponent may not be Jessica Eye.

“Depending on my healing timeline, I’ll fight anyone who is available,” she told MMA Fighting.