Paige VanZant: I have a mental edge over opponents
Now, VanZant heads into her second UFC bout, this Saturday against veteran Felice Herrig, with a Reebok sponsorship and even more hype. For all those celebrating her, many more snipe at the young fighter from the wings, saying she hasn't been around long enough to warrant the attention and success.
VanZant is too busy counting her blessings to care much about haters, however. "I think those things [negativity from others] will always be there," she says, wisely.
"But there are a lot of blessings to be thankful for, as well. I have too much to be happy about to think about negativity."
When VanZant got what she calls "an amazing opportunity" to fight in the UFC, she grabbed it with both gloved hands and wouldn't let go until she had a win in the world's biggest MMA organization under her belt. As retired fighter and FOX analyst Brian Stann said in his preview of this Saturday's FOX UFC Fight Night, VanZant showed in her last fight that she's got the grit and inner strength of a true future contender.
After the the violent win, Paige fell to her back, overwhelmed with emotion and happiness. "I was just hit with emotions," she remembers.
"I sacrificed a lot for this dream of mine. I gave everything I had to make this a career and when I won, it all came rushing in."
Though the Team Alpha Male member is officially a UFC veteran, her experience level doesn't come close to matching that of her opponent, Herrig, who was a champion kickboxer years before she ever got into MMA.
Once she got into MMA, the "Lil Bulldog" quickly jumped into matchups with the very best in the world. Herrig tells us that she's confident her experience will make her comfortable in spots against VanZant where her young opponent will still be uneasy.
VanZant, however, is unconvinced that her opponent's experience edge will make much of a difference in their main card contest. "For me, it isn't a factor," she says.
"I went pro after just one amateur fight, so I was thrown in the deep end right away. I've gotten my experience from the quality of opponents I've faced, and in training. I've been on that level where I've been in front of crowds for just about my whole career. It is not something that has an affect on me."
Suffice to say, VanZant has confidence in the strength of her own psyche. Where opponents may take comfort in having more fights than her, "12 Gauge" says her advantage comes from her mind.
"It is all mental," she concludes.
"I feel that I have a mental edge over my opponents. I have that will where I won't give up, no matter what happens."
The action kicks off live on FOX starting at 6 p.m. ET with the FOX UFC Fight Night prelims before the main card starts at 8 p.m. ET with FOX UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Rockhold.
