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Paige VanZant Compares Favorably To Ronda Rousey, Is She Ready For UFC Glory?

By Ernest Shepard
Published on: 08:26 PST, Sep 6, 2015

Move over Ronda Rousey, Paige VanZant is starting to take the UFC by storm!

The mixed martial artist’s strawweight division win at UFC 191 was the highlight on a card filled with strong matchups. VanZant took it to the 36-year-old Alex Chambers and dominated her (courtesy of UFC.com) in a one-sided bout. The comparisons to active women’s UFC legend and VanZant’s idol, Ronda Rousey, are getting louder. Everyone believes that Paige VanZant is on a collision course with greatness. But before she receives her crown, there needs to be caution thrown to the wind. Just before we anoint her as the next best thing in the women’s UFC hierarchy, understand that her time is not now, but her potential future is a bright one.

There is nowhere for Paige VanZant to go except up. Her bout against Alex Chambers offered a sample of what is in store. VanZant knows what to do and when to do it. It also helps that she has a band of coaches who are preparing her along the way. During each intermission between rounds, you can hear her team giving her step by step instructions on how to break Chambers’ will.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLgUZR4DE5E

Upon first glance, Paige VanZant is relentless. She pressured Alex Chambers throughout the fight, smothering her with clinches the moment she was able to get close. It was well-placed high knees and right elbows during their clinches which gave VanZant the upper hand. Just when it seemed as if the bout would go to the scorecards, the youthful fighter pulled a trick out of her bag, and she applied the armbar submission maneuver which gave her the win.

Much like Ronda Rousey, the woman she looks up to, Paige VanZant was dominant from start to finish. What her victory over Chambers did was catapult her into the strawweight title picture a few matches too soon. VanZant politely warned reporters during the post-fight interview (courtesy of MMA Junkie) that she has a lot more to prove before she can be looked upon as one of the best in the strawweight division. She also assured everyone that she would be ready if a title shot were to present itself.

“When the title shot is there for me, I’ll definitely be ready for it. But I’m not going to rush anything. This is my time in the UFC, this is my career, and I want to enjoy every second of it. It’s just such a blessing to be a part of the UFC. Of course, I’m going to listen to the UFC, whatever they think the next step is for me, I’m going to listen to them.”

Paige VanZant also had this to say regarding the comparisons between herself and Ronda Rousey.

“It’s as much a compliment for people to even say that. But those are definitely huge shoes to fill and I have a long way before I can make that comparison. But I’m thankful that people see that, and I definitely want to follow in her footsteps.”

“She’s opened some great doors for women in all athletics and especially the UFC. So I just think of it as a compliment. It’s not pressure added.”

VanZant, like Rousey, is an in your face fighter. The comparisons are legitimate, but there are three startling differences. Those differences being age, inexperience, and the competition at the top.

VanZant is a young fighter at only 21 years of age. Her scrappy style inside of the octagon is indicative of her inexperience. While she certainly looks the part, and she is exciting to watch, her strategy would have to evolve as she goes into the deep waters known as the women’s strawweight division.

Sitting atop is the experienced champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Jedrzejczyk would take full advantage of VanZant’s defense if they were in a clinch. Alex Chambers had a free hand at times, and she was able to hit VanZant occasionally. Put Joanna Jedrzejczyk in that position, and she would use her striking ability to back the up-and-coming fighter up. She ran through Carla Esparza in a similar fashion to win the title back in March. Esparza was the favorite to win their fight.

Before Paige VanZant can get to the champion, she has to first defeat someone the caliber of Carla Esparza. Nothing against Alex Chambers, but she is light years away from Esparza’s class.

Esparza is not the only obstacle VanZant would have before she can work her way up to title contention. Rose Namajunas, Claudia Gadelha, and Jessica Penne are all swimming in the dangerous waters VanZant is just stepping into.

Is Paige VanZant ready for such ferocious competition?

She has to face them in order to find out. And if she is standing tall after it is all said and done, we can place her in the same class with Ronda Rousey.

VanZant has to do a couple of things in order to get there.

First, she must work on a definitive finishing move. Her armbar looks effective. If that turns out to be her weapon of choice, that will work out great. She will then only have to work on the lead up to applying it. That comes with experience. It would be wise for the UFC to give VanZant at least two more fights against lesser opposition so that she can fine tune a few things.

She would not be able to run up to Jedrzejzyck for a clinch and get away with it cleanly. The same can be said for just about any fighter that is ranked above her. Paige VanZant will have to learn how to create some distance with her opponents. Why not have her learn against unranked fighters until she can go up against the best of the division?

In the meantime, she can master how to take advantage of her marketing opportunities.

Paige VanZant has an exuberant personality.

While Ronda Rousey fights with a chip on her shoulder, VanZant fights as if she has fun dishing out punishment. At UFC 191, you can almost see a smile on her face. Is it as if she cannot believe that she is inside of the octagon. The UFC can capitalize on her success. At 21, VanZant looks more like a Nickelodeon star than a fighter. That will work in her favor, as long as she is not forced into the deep waters too soon.

Paige VanZant is a legitimate star in the UFC. Her win at UFC 191 is drawing Ronda Rousey comparisons. Before we anoint her too fast, Paige VanZant needs a little more time to live up to the now lofty expectations.

(Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images Sport)

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