March 7 | Fontainebleau, Las Vegas
Mikael-Michelle Brown’s Power Slap XII showdown against Paige VanZant didn’t go her way, but her charismatic presence, unique striking style, and fighting spirit made her an instant fan favorite. Now, with experience on the big stage, Brown is determined to earn her way back to a rematch with VanZant.
“The entire experience was amazing,” Brown said. “I think today is the first day I’ve really processed everything that’s happened, and it’s all been amazing. But at the end of the day, I didn’t go there for opportunities—I went there to win. So losing still hurts.”
Debuting a New Slap – Inspired by Pono Paul
One of the most talked-about moments in Brown’s performance was her unique wind-up slap, which she credits to Power Slap striker Pono Paul.
“Pono helped me so much,” Brown explained. “In my first match, I was so square, I wasn’t opening up. Pono told me, ‘Make sure you take your time, really open up, and commit.’ And that’s what I did. I knew I had to bring that to the stage.”
Brown’s stylized wind-up caught the attention of commentators Michael Bisping and Dan Hellie, who joked that she “tickled Paige’s nose” before delivering the first strike.
“That was all about making sure I opened up fully and took my time,” Brown said.
Handling the Big Stage – A New Challenge
Despite her confidence in her slap power, Brown admits that the live audience brought unexpected nerves.
“It was my first time in front of a crowd like that,” she said. “I was shaking when I was trying to take off my hoodie and shoes—I don’t think you could tell, but I could barely get my shoes off. And then I looked over at Paige, and she was just owning the moment. She was engaging with the crowd, and I thought, ‘Wow, okay, let me try to feed off that.’”
Once the match started, Brown settled in, and the intensity of the strikes picked up round by round.
“I think Paige and I both started slow, but as the match went on, our strikes got harder and harder,” she said.
The Funniest Moment – “Tiny Head Girl”
In Round 2, Paige VanZant broke the tension with a mid-match joke, telling Brown: “You have a tiny head, girl.”
“That was the moment I finally relaxed,” Brown laughed. “I was so in my head, but Paige cracked a joke, we giggled, and then she slapped the hell out of me.”
The moment quickly went viral, with Brown’s friend posting a TikTok clip that racked up over a million views.
“People couldn’t believe we were up there laughing while slapping each other,” Brown said.
Did the Judges Get It Right?
The official scorecards had all three rounds in favor of Paige VanZant. However, commentators Michael Bisping and Dan Hellie both believed Brown won the first round.
“I do think I took the first round,” Brown said. “Even though it wouldn’t have changed the overall result, I think it was a little closer than the judges made it seem.”
VanZant’s Toughness Caught Brown Off Guard
Brown expected her knockout power to end the match early, but VanZant’s durability surprised her.
“She just has a hard face,” Brown admitted. “She ate everything I threw at her. I was expecting her to flinch, but she didn’t at all. Good on her.”
Brown also confirmed that VanZant’s third strike caused the most damage, leaving her with bruising and tenderness around her eye.
“In the moment, I wasn’t sure, but I felt it high,” Brown explained. “Even my bruising is up here. But at the end of the day, it happens.”
Clearing Up a Misunderstanding – Fighting With Her Father, Not Against Him
During the post-fight broadcast, Dan Hellie mentioned that Brown had a past physical altercation with her father. Brown quickly clarified the misinterpretation.
“Oh, no! My dad and I fought together, not against each other,” she laughed.
Brown then shared the wild story of her and her father getting into a street fight in Mexico.
“A couple sucker-punched my dad over a parking dispute,” she explained. “I wasn’t going to let them get away with that, so I fought the girlfriend while my dad fought the guy. Then the guy punched me in the face, so I hit him back. Next thing you know, we were in jail in Mexico for a day with no translator, no food, no water. But that’s just me and my dad—we’re both the same level of crazy.”
What’s Next? A Rematch is the Goal
Brown isn’t looking past any opponents, but her focus is clear—she wants to earn her way back to a rematch with VanZant.
“I don’t care how many wins it takes, but I want to get back there,” she said. “I love everything about this, but at the end of the day, I’m here to win. I want to work on my technique, get more reps in, and earn that rematch.”
Medical Suspension & Next Steps
Brown confirmed that she received a medical suspension and needs to get an x-ray on her right wrist.
“My right hand is really stiff—I can’t move it in certain ways,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s just normal post-fight pain, but I need to get it checked out. I’ll probably go to the doctor today.”
Despite the pain, she’s already focused on her next fight.
“I’ll be back, and I’ll be better,” she promised.
Final Thoughts
Mikael-Michelle Brown may have lost the match, but she won the crowd, gained experience, and set the stage for a powerful comeback.
Now, she’s more motivated than ever to climb back to a rematch with Paige VanZant.
“I’m not done. This is just the beginning.”
🔥 Should Mikael-Michelle Brown get an immediate rematch, or should she work her way back? Who should she fight next? 🔥
🔹 Drop your predictions in the comments! 🔹