Paige VanZant open to Ronda Rousey fight

Earlier this year, Paige VanZant had an unpleasant altercation with Ronda Rousey at a Reebok function. The former women’s bantamweight champion apparently wasn’t happy with the strawweight congratulating Holly Holm for defeating her last November.

Although enough time has passed that the hostility should have subsided, VanZant clearly hasn’t forgotten about what transpired and openly entertained a fight with Rousey in an interview with TMZ. But there is a catch.

“(I’d fight her) if she wants to meet at 125,” VanZant said. “I’d have to bulk up (from strawweight) but I would consider going up to 125. It’s not that big of a weight gain for me. We’ll see if we meet at 125.”

Both fighters have some business to handle before a fantasy showdown between the two could even be discussed. Rousey will face Amanda Nunes for the women’s bantamweight title at UFC 207 on Dec. 30 while VanZant will have her hands full with “The Karate Hottie” Michelle Waterson on Dec. 17 at UFC on Fox in Sacramento. VanZant is a slight favorite at -115 to edge out Waterson, according to Sportsbook Review. Meanwhile, Rousey comes in as a -170 favorite against Nunes.

VanZant fully expects Rousey to get past Nunes and reclaim the title she dropped to Holm over a year ago and doesn’t think that her absence from the Octagon will affect her performance.

“I don’t believe in ring rust – I believe it’s 100 percent mental,” VanZant said. “So if she’s 100 percent mentally focused on that night, then she’s going to win it. I would say Ronda by armbar.”

If they were to both come out victorious, there still would be a significant weight disparity between the two. Rousey has fought as high as 155 pounds while VanZant has never fought above 115 pounds. If they were able to find a middle ground, it would certainly be one of the most talked about fights between a pair of popular female fighters. VanZant rose to mainstream prominence during her stint on “Dancing with the Stars” earlier this year while Rousey has been a mainstay for the past few years.