'Adrenaline junkie' Paige VanZant explains allure of Power Slap

Add Power Slap to the list of things Paige VanZant has decided to compete in.

VanZant went from the UFC to bare-knuckle boxing to professional wrestling to now signing with Dana White’s Power Slap promotion. She makes her debut Friday at the UFC Apex against Christine Wolmarans, an 0-1 slap fighter from South Africa.

“When I first saw Power Slap, I thought, ‘Holy sh*t, that’s insane,'” VanZant said in an interview with the UFC. “When I see stuff that’s crazy and exciting, it instantly just makes me want to do it. I’m definitely an adrenaline junkie, and I have been since a very young age.

“I did grow up dancing, and I was a cheerleader, but I just like to have the thrills in life. I think my biggest accolade is my toughness. I love to compete, I love to be violent, and this is literally the epitome of being a dog.”

VanZant sought help from Power Slap light heavyweight Austin Turpin, which has helped build up her confidence as she ventures into a new chapter in her career.

“I want to perform to the best of my ability, and having someone like Austin coming and help me just know exactly what to do to be prepared, that couldn’t have helped my confidence any more,” VanZant said. “I’m hungry to be successful in absolutely everything I do.

“I’ll continuously just prove to people that one, I like to compete, and two, I am a badass no matter what I look like. My opponent probably knows it’s not going to be easy to put me away, and I need to take a belt home. That’s the goal, and I’m not going to go anywhere until I get the belt.”