At just 21-years-old and with three straight wins in the UFC, strawweight Paige VanZant looks set to become one of WMMA's (women's mixed martial arts) next biggest stars.
"12 Gauge" is known for her talent, charisma and striking looks - the Team Alpha Male fighter doesn't fit the stereotypical mould of a fighter, which is why VanZant thinks she's had so much success early on.
"For me to be a fighter, it's different, it's unexpected," she said to UFC.com. "You wouldn't expect someone like me to be a fighter, and I think that's what draws people to watch me. It's the same thing if you saw Roy Nelson in ballet tights all of a sudden performing in Julliard; people would want to watch. It's something unexpected, it's something you would have never imagined, and I think that's why I'm getting so much attention."
Before embarking on a career in MMA, VanZant was brought up dancing by her parents in their home-owned dance studio. The BJJ blue belt says she was always destined to become a world-class athlete.
"I've always had the desire to be the best athlete I could ever be, and I think some people just don't have that. They don't have the heart, and I think that's something you can't teach; you can't learn that. You can put the most technical person out there, and if they don't have the heart, they're not going to be successful. I definitely have the heart. I'm still developing as an athlete and I'm new to MMA, but I have the heart to be a champion and my skills are getting better and better every day."
Paige VanZant will look to extend her win streak to 4-0 when she takes on Joanne Calderwood in the main event of UFC Fight Night 80 on December 10th in Las Vegas, Nevada.