1. Austin Vanderford previously fought in Bellator MMA, where he contended for the Bellator Middleweight World Championship.
20 Facts About Austin Vanderford
1. 2.
Austin Vanderford would develop a taste for competitive sport while wrestling for his high school team, where he became a 2-time Alaska State Wrestling Champion in his junior and senior years.
3.
Austin Vanderford went on to defeat his next two opponents, Adam Fugitt and Ben Fodor, both via unanimous decisions, winning the CageSport Welterweight title against the later at CageSport 47.
4.
Austin Vanderford would go on to tap out Kenny Licea in the second round via rear-naked choke at VFC 59, before he was invited to face Angelo Trevino on July 17,2018, at Dana White's Contender Series 13.
5.
Austin Vanderford won the fight via a rear-naked choke in round two, however did not secure a contract with the UFC.
6.
Austin Vanderford faced Joseph Creer at Bellator 225 on August 25,2019, winning the bout after the doctor stopped the fight after the second round.
7.
Austin Vanderford was scheduled to face Daniel Madrid on September 12,2020, at Bellator 246.
8.
Austin Vanderford was scheduled to face Chris Curtis on November 5,2020, at Bellator 251.
9.
Austin Vanderford faced Fabian Edwards on May 21,2021, at Bellator 259, defeating him via unanimous decision.
10.
Austin Vanderford fought for the Bellator Middleweight World Championship against Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 275 on February 25,2022, at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
11.
Austin Vanderford lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.
12.
Austin Vanderford was scheduled to face Anthony Adams at Bellator 284 on August 12,2022.
13.
Austin Vanderford lost the bout in the first round via TKO stoppage.
14.
Austin Vanderford was scheduled to face Imamshafi Aliev on June 16,2023 at Bellator 297.
15.
On February 14,2024, Austin Vanderford revealed that he negotiated his release from Bellator MMA.
16.
On February 18,2025, it was reported that Austin Vanderford had signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
17.
Austin Vanderford faced Nikolay Veretennikov on February 22,2025 at UFC Fight Night 252 in a 175-pound catchweight bout.
18.
Austin Vanderford won the fight by technical knockout in the second round.
19.
In September 2018, Austin Vanderford married Paige VanZant, a former UFC strawweight.
20.
The couple began dating the previous year, and Austin Vanderford proposed to VanZant in January 2018.