Fighter Profile: Paige "12 Gauge" Paige
Paige '12 Gauge' Van Zant made her UFC debut a little over 2 years ago, and in that time she has made a name for herself as a dancing starlet and all-around household name. Do not let the ballet and her bubblegum smile fool you, this girl is a terminator in the UFC cage. 'PVZ' is a nonstop force of attrition who enjoys bull rushing and overwhelming the opponent with her intense pace and voluminous striking.
She also claims a blue belt in the art of Jiu Jitsu and has shown vast improvements on both the feet and the ground in her last couple of fights. A tough loss to top contender Rose Namajunas late last year tested Paige's heart and will, she fought out of every bad position and struggled to turn the tides of a losing battle deep into the 5th round. Paige has no quit in her and will create engagements at every opportunity...
Fighter Profile: Michelle "The Karate Hottie" Waterson
Michelle 'The Karate Hottie' Waterson is a karate black belt and wushu stylist fighting out of the acclaimed Jackson/Winkeljohn camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her southpaw stance and long kicks make her trouble for anyone who comes to trade blows; once the 'Invicta' atom-weight champion, she still possesses the speed from her former weight class with the power of her new division. She is able to deliver brutish knees inside the clinch, and her blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu somewhat under rates her ground game....she has shown scrambles and transitions of a rank much higher than the one she claims.
Michelle is dangerous at all angles, and has only shown issues in slowing down in later rounds of fights. She is a ravenously quick starter and is never afraid to engage a striking battle. Her karate and muay thai training make her one of the most formidable girls on the feet in the UFC period, she is a stern challenge for any girl in the 115-pound division.
The Matchup
This is one hell of a matchup that places two girls on the brim on being contenders against each other for our viewing pleasure! Michelle has only experienced one fight in the UFC against a very sub-par opponent in Angela Magana, a girl who is 0-4 in the past four years. Paige also experienced a tough loss to once #1 contender Rose Namajunas which showed her flaws in grappling and striking technique; her youth and energy could only take her so far against such a technician.
Michelle is arguably the more technical striker than Paige, but 'PVZ' has shown a new arsenal of flashy yet effective strikes including the flying switch kick she used to put down the sturdy Bec Rawlings. This is going to be a war in which PVZ will most likely gain momentum at clinch and grappling range, her wrestling and pace is far superior to anything that Michelle has ever experienced. On the other hand, PVZ has experienced the type of grappler/karate stylist that Michelle represents....but it did not go so well for her.
PVZ is coming into this fight as a favorite, and she will be fighting at home in front of her team and her family. A few tough losses in the past to Tecia Torres and Namajunas have shown that PVZ may have trouble with 'The Karate Hottie' and her style, but Paige's improvements in stand up and composure show that she is an ever growing product. This is an incredibly close fight with huge implications for straw-weight divisional standings, expect these ladies to make a splash in the North Bay!
Odds
| VanZant(fav) | Waterson |
| -110 | +100 |
| 1.91 | 2.00 |
| 10/11 | 1/1 |
