Paige VanZant stunned in Bare Knuckle boxing debut at KnuckleMania – despite knocking out Britain Hart’s too

Paige VanZant endured a nightmare start to her Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship career after being beaten by Britain Hart on Friday night.

The former UFC fighter was making her first appearance since her release from the MMA organisation, with ‘KnuckleMania’ the location for her move into bare knuckle boxing.

However, the 26-year-old debutant was convincingly beaten by the veteran and the judges saw it that way too – all three scored it 49-46.

’12 Gauge’ was left with nasty swelling under her left eye and took to Instagram to confirm she was alright after the fight, despite refusing to do any interviews in the ring afterwards.

“Humble in victory,” she wrote. “Humble in defeat.”

Meanwhile Hart was far more loquacious after the surprise win – even though she had lost a tooth in the fight.

“It’s as big as you make it,” the victor said in a highly-charged post-fight interview. “I’m not a person… I love Paige VanZant, she was an idol of mine because she’s a pretty girl who can break the limits.

“I am not a person though, I am a f****** feeling, and all you guys are going to feel me. Paige VanZant knocked my teeth out… it’s a good thing sharks can grow back their teeth.

“I made this moment about the people who believe, not the people who don’t believe. This is not for the people who said Paige VanZant was going to win; this is for the people who said I could.

“I really wanted to knock her out in the third round but she is tough… but was not going to let her out-work me.”