Paige VanZant got the shock of a lifetime after she suffered a stunning knockdown in the first round of her fight against Elle Brooke in the main event at Misfits Boxing 15.
Elle Brooke vs. Paige VanZant
Despite coming into the fight as the overwhelming favorite, VanZant ate a huge right hand that sat her down on the canvas.
VanZant eventually recovered and managed to storm back in the later rounds, especially with Brooke running on fumes.
Still, the adult entertainer turned boxer stayed in the fight from the first minute until the last with the judges ultimately scoring the fight as a split draw.
One judge gave the fight 48-46 to Brooke, a second judge went 48-46 for VanZant and the third official had it 47-47.
In the end, Brooke retains her Misfits middleweight title with VanZant already expecting a rematch in the near future.
“Honestly I said it would be a tough fight the whole camp,” VanZant said after her boxing debut. “I knew how tough she was.
I took the fight for a reason. I was excited. I watched her past fights. I knew it’d be tough. It is what it is.
It sets up the perfect rematch.
“I signed a multi-fight contract for a reason. It looks like we’re going to do it one more time, I think in Dubai it sounds like.”
As for Brooke, she may have walked into the fight as the incumbent champion but with all her past experience coming against social influencers and reality TV stars, she was a heavy underdog against a UFC and BKFC veteran like VanZant.
She didn’t let any of that affect her in the fight as Brooke ended up scoring the only knockdown before going to a split draw with VanZant.
“It’s one of those things where you have to rewatch it,” Brooke said about the decision. “Because in there, you’re getting hit but you’re also hitting.
I don’t think I’m experienced enough to think yeah, I’m 100 percent winning this but with the knockdown, I could see me winning it but I have to watch it back. I was just saying to Paige we get a big money rematch!
This is perfect!”
As the professional fighter, VanZant showed a lot more discipline early with a lead jab and combinations as she looked to overwhelm her less experienced opponent.
The momentum shifted in a hurry after Brooke uncorked a huge right hand that blasted VanZant in the chin and put her down on the canvas.