Paige VanZant resilient in first statement after loss at BKFC 19: ‘Guess what b*tches? I’m still smiling’

Paige VanZant didn’t get the result she wanted at BKFC 19 but that doesn’t mean she’s hiding from the loss after falling to Rachael Ostovich by unanimous decision on Friday night.

The former UFC fighter battled it out with Ostovich over five rounds but ultimately came up on the wrong end of a judges’ decision, which counted for her second consecutive loss since inking a deal to transition to bare-knuckle competition. As soon as the decision was read, VanZant bolted from the ring as she walked backstage obviously dejected by the result.

Now less than a day later, VanZant is resilient in the face of any criticism she’s facing for the loss while promising that this is just a speed bump on the road she’s traveling in her combat sports journey.

“Guess what b*tches???!! I’m still smiling!!!” VanZant wrote on Instagram along with some photos from after her fight. “My story is full of setbacks, road blocks and detours. But, it is also filled with major comebacks, peace in my soul and a grace that saved my life. I promise you this, I would endure this pain everyday of my life over the pain of regret.

“I am going to keep chasing my dream one step at a time. 99.9% of the people on Earth would not dare do what I do. This story will be even better than my first. And if you haven’t read my book before click the link in my bio. That is real pain. This is just a bad chapter. And to anyone out there struggling. Pain is only for a moment. The world may be dark and love to hate on you, but darkness does not drive out darkness only light can do that. So DO NOT STOP SHINING!!!!”

While the fight didn’t go her way, VanZant definitely came out of the gate firing at Ostovich as soon as the action got started in the main event.

A slow start plagued VanZant in her debut against Britain Hart back in February but she had no nerves this time around. Unfortunately for her, Ostovich seemed more than ready for that strategy as she immediately began firing back with heavy shots of her own as the fighters slugged it out for all 10 minutes.

A quick look at the photos posted by VanZant show the kind of damage her hands took during the war with Ostovich over five rounds.

In the end, Ostovich’s ability to land power punches including a nasty overhand right that continuously tagged VanZant throughout the fight appeared to be the difference in the end.

VanZant is now 0-2 in BKFC after inking a four-fight deal with the promotion in free agency following the end of her previous contract with the UFC, but it appears she’s undeterred as she pushes forward with her career.