In December 2015, Paige VanZant saw her four-fight winning streak come to an end when she lost a bloody battle with Rose Namajunas at UFC Fight Night 80. Namajunas won that contest by submission in the fifth and final round of the fight, which served as the main event of that card. VanZant returned to action more than eight months later against Bec Rawlings at UFC on FOX 21. Rawlings entered the contest on a two-fight winning streak.
Despite her loss to Namajunas, VanZant entered the matchup as the No. 10 ranked fighter in the strawweight division. She was also a -210 favorite over Rawlings who was a +170 underdog.
VanZant employed a kick-heavy game plan early in the fight. The idea behind that attack was to stay on the outside and avoid the striking game of her opponent. That approach was somewhat successful, but VanZant was not particularly busy and that allowed Rawlings the time and space to move in and land strikes of her own. By the time the first round came to an end, Rawlings had outlanded VanZant in the striking department 30 to 17.
Between rounds, VanZant’s corner told her to focus on leg kicks, while Rawlings coaches advised her to wait for VanZant to move forward and throw a right hand. VanZant’s corner also urged her to stay away from flying kicks.
VanZant ignored that advice and threw a jumping switch kick that dropped Rawlings to the mat early in the round. A few strikes on the ground finished the fight at the 17-second mark of the second stanza.
VanZant is 0-2 since her win over Rawlings. She returns to action at UFC on ESPN+ 1, which takes place on Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. VanZant faces Rachael Ostovich on that card.
Before that fight takes place, you can watch VanZant’s “Performance of the Night” bonus-winning knockout of Rawlings right here.
