Bloodyelbow.com
It pays to know people in high places. And for Austin Vanderford, that means he’ll get his shot to earn a contract in the top mixed martial arts organization in the world. Vanderford is a welterweight fighter out of Oregon, who happens to be an NAIA national champion wrestler and possesses an undefeated 4-0 pro record.
Oh, and he’s also the fiance of UFC flyweight Paige VanZant. He’s also not afraid to use that when promoting himself.
Last month, he took to Twitter to campaign for a spot on the UFC’s Boise card and while listing off his credentials, one of them was “PVZ’s man”:
Hey @ufc I’m ready to go!!! Get me on the July 14th card in Idaho!! Undefeated, Natty champ and PVZ’s man. What else are you looking for?! I’m right here!!! Anyone you put in front of me is gonna have a bad day.
Well, he didn’t end up getting that shot on the Boise card. But he is getting a chance to earn his stripes in another arena – Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Vanderford will compete on the show against Angelo Trevino in July:
The UFC has booked Austin Vanderford (@austinv170mma), who is engaged to flyweight Paige VanZant, a fight on its Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series on July 17, I’m told. He’ll fight Angelo Trevino, a Team Alpha Male prospect.
Vanderford’s four pro wins include one over Ben Fodor, better known as crime fighter Phoenix Jones. He was 4-0 as an amateur as well before moving onto his pro career. VanZant and Vanderford got engaged back in January.
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