UFC’s Paige VanZant has a new opponent for Dec. 10
Paige VanZant celebrates after defeating Alex Chambers at UFC 191 in Las Vegas on Sept. 5.
Popular Ultimate Fighting Championship prospect Paige VanZant has been given a new Dec. 10 opponent in her first main event at UFC Fight Night 80 at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
UFC President Dana White announced Wednesday that VanZant (6-1) will face third-ranked strawweight Rose Namajunas (3-2), who’s replacing Joanne Calderwood.
Calderwood was forced to withdraw after sustaining an injury.
The matchup becomes tougher for VanZant.
Namajunas was a runner-up on a previous “The Ultimate Fighter,” losing in the final to Carla Esparza via submission. Esparza won the strawweight belt with that victory, then was defeated by current champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Sixth-ranked VanZant -- who, like bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, has an exclusive apparel deal with Reebok -- would move closer toward a shot at Jedrzejczyk by beating Namajunas.
VanZant defeated Alex Chambers at UFC 191 with an impressive third-round submission. The 21-year-old is undefeated in the UFC and has shown improvement with each bout.
UFC Fight Night 80 is to start a full weekend of fights in Las Vegas climaxing with the anticipated UFC 194 featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor at the MGM Grand on Dec. 12.
On Dec. 11, “The Ultimate Fighter” finale will take place on a card featuring the main event between VanZant’s Team Alpha Male teammate, Chad Mendes, and Frankie Edgar.
Another top UFC prospect, Sage Northcutt, will fight at the Cosmopolitan show headlined by VanZant.
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