Paige VanZant is ready for the big show

UFC Strawweight Paige VanZant c/o Gabriela Ochoa

At only 21 years of age, UFC flyweight Paige “12 Gauge” VanZant is on the fast track to stardom. After just two dominating wins in the octagon, the Team Alpha Male fighter is ready to take the next step in her career as she opens up the UFC 191 pay-per-view Saturday night when she takes on Alex Chambers at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

With so much attention during fight week, VanZant says that none of it is a distraction and is something she’s embracing.

“Of course I love the media thing. I’m a girl and love getting dressed up and getting my picture taken. Those are great, especially when I’ve been training for months and haven’t put anything on but workout clothes. But as far as the media stuff goes, I don’t really think about it too much,” says VanZant.

It’s a balance between obligations to promote an event and the charismatic nature of the fighter that is finding out that moving up the ranks means more stops with the media and promotional stops.

“The media attention means nothing if I don’t win fights. I focused on technique for this fight,” says VanZant.

A deal with Reebok and being moved to the forefront of the division in terms of promotion has made other fighters in the division critical of the amount of attention VanZant is getting. She understands that with these things the reaction was expected.

“People only hate what they love, what they can’t be and what they don’t understand. One of the three. It’s hard not to notice when it’s in your face every day on social media. For me I have too many positive things, too many amazing people in my life to care how my opponents feel about me. Of course they’re not going to like me, we’re going to fight each other,” says VanZant.

UFC Strawweight Paige VanZant c/o Gabriela Ochoa

Much has been said of the 115 pound division and VanZant takes issue with fighters within the division training with each other. The way she sees it, these fighters are training with potential future opponents.

“They’re all potential opponents. That’s what I don’t understand about all the straweights that are congregating together and training at the same gym. That makes absolutely no sense to me because the division is so small that eventually you guys are going to fight each other,” says VanZant.

This is a scenario VanZant sees backfiring on these training agreements between potential opponents. It is why she prefers to train with her team at Team Alpha Male where she is in no danger of exposing herself to potential opponents during training.

“For me I’m going to stay at my gym and train. I have a lot of people who care for me and if my opponents don’t like me, it’s okay,” says VanZant.

One other thing VanZant takes into consideration is the changes being established in the new drug testing policy. This includes the banning of IV bags by fighters looking to rehydrate after making weight. Both things could lead to changes in the division.

“If you rely on IV to make weight or after making weight it’s going to be tough. Especially for strawweights because if you can’t make 115 pounds you have to go up to 135 or really start making changes in your diet. I will say that some of the girls in my weight class have very masculine physiques and I don’t know if you can get those naturally. I’m not a nutritionist though so I don’t really know,” says VanZant.

The only real pressure from all these events and changes is the one VanZant places on herself. She’s confident of what to expect from herself.

The only pressure I feel is the pressure I put on myself. I love to win and I hate losing but I hate losing more than I love to win,” says VanZant.

Saturday night she gets to take another step closer to climbing the ranks of the strawweight division at UFC 191.