Paige VanZant tops GFL list of 60 new signings ahead of Jan. 24 draft, Cain Velasquez also joins promotion

Paige VanZant was a once-highly touted prospect in the UFC. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Global Fight League (GFL) continues to add to its roster ahead of its inaugural draft.

The team-based fight promotion, which recently unveiled a massive list of signings to Uncrowned that included eight former UFC champions, on Friday revealed a roster of 60 female fighters signed across five divisions, ranging from featherweight to atomweight. A handful of UFC veterans, including Paige VanZant, have inked deals with the fledgling promotion for its debut year, giving them eligibility to enter the first-ever GFL draft on Jan. 24. The first crop of GFL events is set to launch in April.

VanZant, 30, hasn’t fought in MMA since her final UFC appearance in July 2020. In that matchup against perennial strawweight contender Amanda Ribas, VanZant (8-5) suffered a first-round armbar loss. It was the final fight on her UFC contract. VanZant went 5-4 during her run inside the Octagon.

Following her UFC departure, VanZant joined the world of bare-knuckle boxing to compete under the BKFC banner, going 0-2 in two contests against Rachael Ostovich and Britain Hart. She’s since had a one-off boxing match with Misfits Boxing that resulted in a split draw against Elle Brooke in May 2024, as well as two Power Slap appearances. VanZant has gone 1-0-1 in those two Power Slap matches.

Former Bellator featherweight champion Julia Budd also joins the GFL roster, alongside former Invicta FC champions and UFC veterans Jessica Penne, Tonya Evinger and Talita Bernardo.

Aside from competitor signings, GFL announced that former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has joined the promotion as a team manager. He’ll work with his longtime head coach at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) Javier Mendez, who will be the head coach of their team.

The full list of recently announced female fighters can be seen below.

Featherweight (150 pounds):