After a year-long layoff, Paige VanZant will make her return at UFC St. Louis.
MMA Fighting previously reported that VanZant (7-3) was expected to compete on the Jan. 14 card in a flyweight bout vs. Jessica Rose-Clark (8-4, 1 NC). VanZant confirmed on The MMA Hour that she is booked for that date, but would not say for sure that she was fighting Rose-Clark.
“I signed my contract,” VanZant said. “I am fighting January 14. I mean, the UFC hasn’t announced it yet, but everyone can get ready because I’m just excited to get back in there. I’m tired of waiting, I’m tired of seeing all these fights announced and then watching all these amazing fights on TV and not being able to talk about mine. So yeah, St. Louis, Missouri, I’m coming, I’m so excited.”
Rose-Clark recently took to social media to hype up the bout, though the UFC has not made it official.
Are you excited? Cos I’m excited #UFCStLouis#JRCvsPVZ pic.twitter.com/qoPYRaEyjV
— Jessy Jess (@missjessyjess) November 23, 2017
Asked if Rose-Clark is the opponent in question, VanZant declined to get into specifics.
“I don’t know if I can say that yet, but I am fighting January 14,” VanZant said. “I don’t want to get in too much trouble.”
What VanZant could say is that she watched Rose-Clark’s win over Bec Rawlings at UFC Sydney and she was impressed with what she saw.
“Yes, a great debut (for Rose-Clark),” VanZant said. “Awesome that she’s in the 125-division, my new division, so I’m very excited. I’ve seen a lot of talent at this division so I’m excited to see where it goes.”
VanZant is making the move from strawweight to flyweight, so she hasn’t had the chance to scout out potential opponents at 125 pounds. However, she is looking forward to the prospect of a potential meeting with Rose-Clark and whoever else the matchmakers manage to find for her.
“You just focus on the people that are in your division within the UFC and then there’s people coming up from all sorts of different areas and different promotions that I haven’t quite heard of yet, but yeah I watched their fight and I loved it,” VanZant said. “I thought it was a great fight.”
UFC Fight Night 124 is scheduled to take place at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.
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