In a world where CM Punk is a UFC fighter, Paige VanZant fighting for a belt is actually believable.
The UFC will soon establish a new women’s flyweight division and Paige VanZant aims to make it her home.
A new champion will be crowned at the conclusion of the current season of the Ultimate Fighter featuring lightweight contenders Eddie Alvarez and Justin Gaethje as coaches. The entire series has been promoted around the belt being awarded to the winner.
Once that happens, a lot of smaller bantamweights and strawweights who struggle to cut to 115 lbs are expected to make the move. Valentina Shevchenko, who’s lost to current 145 lb queen Amanda Nunes twice is widely expected to contest for the belt in the near future.
However, VanZant announced to the world that she would be fighting the winner of the series in what would be the first UFC title fight of her career.
My next fight is against the winner of the 125 division Ultimate Fighter. Don’t blink.
— Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant) November 5, 2017
There is a dearth of stars in the UFC right now, but VanZant is being promoted as one of the more marketable athletes on the roster.
She received a Reebok sponsorship deal after her UFC debut when her record was 4-1. Dana White claimed afterwards that she received the lucrative deal because of she has the ‘it factor’. VanZant went on to compete on Dancing With The Stars and will soon release an autobiography, a strange move for a 23-year-old who’s not far into their athletic career.
Considering she lost her last outing via submission to Michelle Waterson nearly a year ago, her receiving an opportunity to fight for a UFC belt next had a lot of fans confused. Fortunately, it doesn’t appear to be happening.
Just spoke to UFC officials, who say there are no plans of a Paige VanZant 125-pound title fight being formalized as of right now.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 5, 2017
‘As of right now’ appears to be the operative phrase there. A win or two at 125 lbs and don’t be surprised if she gets a shot at the soon-to-be-crowned champ.
