Despite recent back injury, Paige VanZant hoping to fight before year’s end

Despite her recent back injury, Paige VanZant is still hoping to fight in 2017.

VanZant, who was forced to withdraw from UFC 216 due to a herniated disc, told MMAFighting.com that she is currently undergoing physical therapy for her injured back and is hopeful she’ll be able to fight again before the end of the year.

The 23-year-old VanZant added that she’s currently dealing with the same back injury she had before she signed with the UFC in 2014.

VanZant suffered the injury training jiu-jitsu and was advised by her doctor to avoid training for a few weeks. She won't, however, need to undergo surgery.

PVZ, who hasn’t fought since December 2016 and recently relocated from Sacramento, Calif. to Portland, Ore., was scheduled to fight Jessica Eye next week in Las Vegas, though she isn’t set on fighting Eye upon returning.

“Depending on my healing timeline, I’ll fight anyone who is available,” she said.