Mixed martial arts is a sport where women can achieve prominence that rival that of their male peers. Ronda Rousey has become one of the biggest names in sports. Gina Carano could easily score a large payday, even though she’s been out of the sport for years. UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk is on the cusp of becoming a fan favorite. While the space at the top is limited, there remain opportunities for female fighters to build their brands. Paige VanZant is looking to join the list of women who can be considered true stars of MMA, and UFC 191 is another step in her still early journey.
Googling “Paige VanZant” will return nearly one million pages, and that number will grow after this weekend’s event. She’s a surging star that many individuals are excited to watch heading into her matchup with Alex Chambers. If she wins, and wins big, she may be placed on the short list of potential contenders slated to face the strawweight champion in the near future. This is exactly the situation that the UFC would love to leverage.
It’s no secret that VanZant has become a fan favorite due to her looks. Former champion Carla Esparza expressed those sentiments when VanZant was awarded a deal with Reebok before she was given the same, even though she was a champion at the time. However, VanZant’s abilities in the cage dispel the notion that her ranking is solely based on aesthetics.
Two fights into her UFC tenure, VanZant has already shown the type of tenacity that builds fans within MMA. She battered Kailin Curran at UFC Fight Night 57 in the most exciting fight of the card. She followed it up with an equally thrilling win over veteran Felice Herrig at UFC on Fox 15. While there will always be the steady stream of naysayers, VanZant is putting together a run that will prove her value goes much further than her smile. At the same time, VanZant understands the value of the way she has been able to leverage her abilities both in and out of the cage:
“I see the fact that Reebok is having mostly champions then me, but if you look at my followers, I have more followers on Instagram than every champion except for Ronda Rousey,” VanZant said while speaking with Danny Acosta of Sherdog. “I definitely know I deserve to be where I am.”
In VanZant the UFC has another fighter that could potentially develop into a major star. The organization is working hard to build up fighters to replace the names of Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva as fighters that can grab positive headlines while drawing in paying viewers. So far, only Rousey and Conor McGregor are on that list. VanZant trails both of them, but she clearly has more upside than current champions Demetrious Johnson and T.J. Dillashaw, who have failed to set the box office on fire during their respective tenures. VanZant has the combination of ability and attractiveness that when mixed with consistent success creates star power.
VanZant vs. Chambers is the next step in determining whether the UFC darling is ready for the bigger stages of mixed martial arts. She’s already shown an ability to garner attention and deliver in the cage with action. A big victory will continue to prove that VanZant is more than just another pretty smile, even if that smile gives UFC a boost among its male and female fans.
• Alex Chambers vs. Paige VanZant
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UFC 191: Johnson vs. Dodson 2 takes place on September 5, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC 191 will be.
