UFC 191 fighter Paige VanZant enjoys the moment on the scale before the crowd during weigh ins at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday, September 4, 2015.
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015 | 2 a.m.
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Paige VanZant’s profile has risen everywhere over the last several months — including in her own gym.
The 21-year-old women’s strawweight prospect has spent the last few weeks traveling and relaxing after beating Alex Chambers at UFC 191. She’s only visited her home Team Alpha Male gym in Sacramento once, where high-profile teammates like bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw even treated her differently.
“T.J. was just giving me the, ‘You’re too cool because you’re the headliner,’” VanZant laughed. “It’s just funny. Everyone is super-congratulatory, and they’re excited to get me ready for the next fight.”
VanZant (6-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) ascends to headliner status in her next fight, scheduled for Dec. 10 at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan when she takes on Joanne Calderwood (10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 80. The card opens what’s shaping up as a historic weekend for the UFC.
The mixed martial arts promotion is staging two preceding events on back-to-back nights in support of one of its biggest fights, between featherweights Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor at UFC 194 on Dec. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. VanZant’s teammate Chad Mendes meets Frankie Edgar on Dec. 11 at the Cosmopolitan in “The Ultimate Fighter 22” finale to determine featherweight’s top contender.
It’s the first time the UFC has ever staged events on three consecutive nights — tickets for all of the events went on sale Friday — with VanZant the first main attraction.
“I put pressure on myself every fight,” VanZant said. “The fact that I get to be on such an amazing fight weekend and the headliner are just bonuses to me.”
VanZant can play coy, but it’s too late for the UFC. The implications of booking VanZant in a main event speak volumes.
It means she’s exceedingly close to a championship bout in the 115-pound division, where Joanna Jedrzejczyk currently reigns. It’s time to find out whether the constant associations with women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey are merited.
“The fact that people compare me to Ronda is a huge compliment,” VanZant said. “I definitely don’t think I can make that comparison myself just because she’s accomplished so much that I haven’t.”
Having already suffered a loss — to Tecia Torres at an Invicta card in January 2013 — and never notching a first-round finish, VanZant isn’t as dominant as Rousey. But she shares the looks and charm that have helped Rousey become a crossover superstar.
VanZant is also, like Rousey, often unafraid to speak her mind as evidenced by her prediction for what will happen at UFC 194.
“I give it to McGregor,” VanZant said. “I really think Aldo is broken just from everything that’s happened. Mentally, I don’t know how he can handle all that, especially having so many injuries and not taking the fight.”
VanZant sees a mental edge, which she honed as a child as an obsessive dancer, as a major advantage. It’s one of many things that could keep propelling her beginning with the matchup against Calderwood.
“Seeing the accomplishments Ronda has achieved, it’s amazing to see she keeps breaking these barriers,” VanZant said. “It’s nice to know and it’s comforting to know those things are possibilities to me. If I continue on this path, continue winning and continue with this pressure on myself those things are going to be a reality.”
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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