Paige VanZant to Make Gloved Boxing Debut Against Elle Brooke in Misfits 15 Main Event

Former UFC star Paige VanZant is set to make her gloved boxing debut against OnlyFans creator and Misfits Boxing women's middleweight champion Elle Brooke on May 25 at NRG Arena in Houston, headlining the Misfits 15 event. The fight details were unintentionally disclosed during the DAZN broadcast of the Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney press conference, much to the frustration of Misfits promoter Mams Taylor.

VanZant, who has an 8-5 record in MMA, left the UFC in 2020 and transitioned to bare-knuckle boxing with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). However, she suffered back-to-back losses in her two BKFC outings, with her last bout being a July 2021 defeat to Rachael Ostovich. Since then, VanZant has largely focused on her OnlyFans page and has not competed in combat sports.

Brooke, a 26-year-old adult film star and OnlyFans content creator, has made a name for herself in the world of influencer boxing. She boasts a 4-1 record since her debut in July 2022, including a recent third-round knockout victory over Andrea-Jane Bunker to capture the Misfits Boxing women's middleweight title in January.

Why this matters: The VanZant vs. Brooke fight marks a significant milestone for women's influencer boxing and the Misfits Boxing promotion. It showcases the growing popularity and mainstream appeal of crossover events featuring athletes from different combat sports backgrounds and social media personalities.

Mams Taylor, the co-president of Misfits Boxing, expressed his excitement about the matchup, stating, "This fight between Paige VanZant and Elle Brooke will be a landmark event for our female division. We're thrilled to have Paige make her gloved boxing debut on our platform against a rising star like Elle."

The VanZant vs. Brooke bout will headline a stacked Misfits 15 card, which will also feature the first fight in the newly created Misfits Boxing cruiserweight tournament, with former NFL star Le'Veon Bell taking on Tristan Hamm. The event is part of the MF & DAZN: X Series and will be held in Houston, Texas, a popular location for the organization due to the state's openness to

Key Takeaways

• Paige VanZant to make boxing debut vs. Elle Brooke on May 25 in Houston.
• VanZant, 8-5 in MMA, left UFC in 2020 and transitioned to bare-knuckle boxing.
• Brooke, 26, is an adult film star and OnlyFans creator with a 4-1 boxing record.
• Matchup marks a milestone for women's influencer boxing and Misfits Boxing promotion.
• Event to also feature former NFL star Le'Veon Bell in Misfits Boxing cruiserweight tournament.