A competitor on the UFC 320 early prelims has drawn interest not only for his upcoming bout, but also for his family’s high-profile pivot outside the cage.
The spouse in the spotlight
Vanderford is married to Paige VanZant, 31, a former UFC strawweight/flyweight who has also competed in bare-knuckle boxing and professional wrestling. VanZant last fought in the UFC in July 2020 (a loss to Amanda Ribas), then signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and boxed to a draw against British influencer and adult performer Elle Brooke in May 2024. She has also taken part in Power Slap, winning two of three appearances, most recently in March.
A different primary job
Since 2021, VanZant has operated a subscription content account on OnlyFans. In 2023, she told the “Only Stans” podcast that her first day on the platform earned more than her total fight purses to that point. In later interviews, including with TMZ in 2024, she characterized fighting as a “hobby” compared with the income from her online business.
Fan requests and monetization
VanZant has described receiving unusual purchase requests from subscribers, citing one “kiss card” sale for $13,000. She also recalled opening the account around a BKFC fight week and seeing tens of thousands of subscribers within hours, a moment she said convinced her and Vanderford that the financial risk of leaving traditional sponsorships would be manageable.
Vanderford’s stance
Publicly, Vanderford has backed his wife’s decision, framing it as a pragmatic choice given the revenue it brings. The couple has presented the arrangement as a way to support both of their athletic endeavors.
Big picture
UFC 320 is headlined by a light heavyweight title bout between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira, with Corey Sandhagen vs Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight belt also on the bill. Against that backdrop, Vanderford vs Brahimaj carries an off-the-mat subplot: a reminder that fighter households often balance multiple careers, and that digital subscription businesses can now eclipse traditional combat-sports income for some athletes.