Paige VanZant -- Bloody, Bruised, Smiling ... After 1st UFC Loss

Paige VanZant was in pretty good spirits Thursday night ... despite the beating she took from Rose Namajunas at UFC Fight Night -- smiling and laughing through the pain at her news conference.

The UFC star fought her ass off ... but in the end, Rose was just too much for the 21-year-old.

Afterward, VanZant kept a positive attitude -- though admitted," I wanted to win ... I'm sad, but I'm fine."

As for the winner, Rose was also smiling after the fight ... with barely a scratch on her body.