

Starling improved to 2-0 in the BKFC, while VanZant is still searching for her first bare-knuckle victory after dropping decisions to Ostovich and Hart. I hope she still continues to fight for bare-knuckle and I hope she makes her way back that way.” In the UFC, you’re not up in the top and then lose and get to just automatically fight the champ again or get right back up there in that ranking like that, I think it needs to be something where she builds herself back up and hopefully gets right back to it. She needs to get her confidence back and gain her traction back. “I’m not above fighting Paige at all, she’s awesome, and it would be an honor, but like I said we’re in two different conversations right now. Paige is awesome, but right now we’re just in two different conversations right now, just with what I’m doing in the tournament and champ talk and belt talk and stuff like that. I think a lot of people are really kind of knocking her and I think that’s bulls*it. I think Paige is awesome, Paige is so nice, Paige is a badass. “It doesn’t really appeal to me,” Starling said.

In an interview on What the Heck, Starling told MMA Fighting that while she has the greatest respect for VanZant, she sees bigger things ahead than a potential matchup between the two.

Starling is fresh off of a 28-second knockout of Cassie Robb at BKFC 19 in July, a finish that stole the show on a card headlined by VanZant and fellow former UFC fighter Rachael Ostovich.

While VanZant, a popular fighter who made her name in the UFC, has brought plenty of attention to the growing bare-knuckle boxing promotion, it’s fighters like Starling, Britain Hart, and Christine Ferea who have delivered in the ring. That means we shouldn’t expect her to face off with BKFC poster girl Paige VanZant anytime soon. Taylor Starling has emerged as one of the Bare Knuckle Boxing Championship’s breakout stars and she’s confident that she can sell fights on the strength of her own name now.
