July - 2015
SCRAPP! FIGHT MAGAZINE
8
Word came out this week that the
UFC was targeting a fall date for the
rising strawweight star, perhaps UFC
191, and a bout with Alex Cham-
bers, who failed to make it far on
The Ultimate Fighter, but who has
since picked up her first win in the
octagon over Kailin Curran — the
fighter VanZant beat in her UFC de-
but last year.
That rumor was a shock to some,
given VanZant had just finished a
top ten fighter in Felice Herrig at
UFC on Fox 15 in New Jersey this
past April, especially since UFC Pres-
ident Dana White was quoted af-
terwards as saying VanZant would
move higher up the food chain.
However, VanZant has now con-
firmed the fight, and career wise, it’s
good news for the popular young
star.
While Dana White suggested she
move up into deeper waters, the
fact is, Paige VanZant has just two
wins in the UFC, and six fights in her
career to date. Feeding her to cham-
pion Joanna Jedrzejczyk would be
like leading a lamb to the slaughter,
especially after watching Jedrzejc-
zyk rearrange the facial features of
Jessica Penne last weekend at UFC
Fight Night 69. And that’s what
VanZant would have been looking
at had she faced, and won against,
a higher ranked opponent.
While Chambers is a step back in
the rankings, the UFC are protect-
ing an investment here, and while
a certain segment of fans will claim
that VanZant is getting an “easy”
fight, the reality is that there are no
easy fights in the UFC, and this fight
will simply allow VanZant more time
to grow as a fighter.
Should a title shot come knocking
when Paige VanZant has five wins
in the division, sure — then you can
talk title contender. For now, the
UFC isn’t protecting a star so much
as they’re developing one, which is
exactly what they should be doing.
