Paige VanZant might have her hands full with Michelle Waterson this coming weekend as the two strawweights headline UFC on Fox 22 from Sacramento, California, but that hasn’t stopped ’12 Gauge’ from speculating on a potential fight with Ronda Rousey.
Of course, as things currently stand, they are two weight classes apart. VanZant has spent her UFC career at 115lb while Rousey has been pretty much a career bantamweight. However, Paige says the two could potentially meet at in the middle, at flyweight.
“If she wants to meet at 125, (I’d fight her),” VanZant said. “I’d have to go up ,but I would consider going up to 125. It’s not that big of a weight gain for me. We’ll see if we meet at 125.”
With Rousey set to return after over a year out of the game at the end of the month, when she tries to recapture the UFC 135lb championship from the hands of Amanda Nunes at UFC 207, VanZant believes she will be victorious as long as she’s mentally ready.
“I don’t believe in ring rust – I believe it’s 100% mental,” VanZant said. “So if she’s 100% mentally focused on that night, then she’s going to win it. I would say Ronda by armbar.”
There’s been much speculation as to whether this could be the last time we see Rousey inside a Octagon with the former champion herself indicating she doesn’t have many fights left in her. And VanZant thinks UFC 207 may very well be her swansong.
She added: “I think it could be her last fight. It’s a big deal for her but she’s so successful outside of fighting that she doesn’t have to fight anymore. And it’s such a violent sport it takes a lot out of you. But either way she’s had a very successful career.”
