Paige VanZant Says Her Next Fight Is A UFC Flyweight Championship Bout, Dana White Says Not
It looks like Paige VanZant is set for an upcoming championship fight.
During UFC 217 on Saturday night, #10 ranked Strawweight Paige VanZant announced that her next fight would happen against the winner of the current Ultimate Fighter season. That winner is determined in just one month at The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale, where the first ever UFC Women's Flyweight Champion will be crowned.
The announcement puts the title fight likely for early 2018, but will serve as VanZant's first fight at 125 pounds after ten at 115 pounds.
The booking is an interesting one, as the 23-year old VanZant hasn't competed at all in 2017, and in her last appearance in December 2016, was thoroughly dominated by opponent Michelle Waterson. The move to Flyweight was hardly a surprise, as she's been very outspoken about how tough the cut to strawweight has been for her.
VanZant was scheduled to compete at UFC 216 againt Jessica Eye in her Flyweight debut, but said that the was sidelined with a herniated disc, double ear infections, pink eye, ringworm and a sinus infection.
At the UFC 217 post-fight press conference Dana White shot down these rumors.
The TUF 26 Finale takes place December 1 from the Park Theatre in Las Vegas, Nevada.
