UFC fighter Paige VanZant has said being bullied when she was younger has ‘shaped the person’ she’s become.

She has previously revealed in her autobiography Rise: Surviving the Fight of My Life that she had to change her last name after bullies called her ‘Slutton’ instead of ‘Sletton’.

She said on Instagram: "When was younger, I faced bullies who took away my confidence. It was only through fighting that I realised God could use those negative experiences to shape the person that I'd become.

"Now, I'm using my platform to be a guiding force for others facing emotional trauma. 

"I'm on the @JesusCalling Podcast this week, sharing how I'm saying 'yes' to the opportunities God places in my path, and how I've learned that all things work together for good."

She is set to tell the podcast about how fighting helped her overcome her demons.

VanZant was most recently in the octagon on fight island in July where she suffered a defeat to Amanda Ribas at UFC 251.

And while her deal with the UFC ended after the bout, she has said she plans to return to the sport later this year.