Paige VanZant Ready To Prove Doubters Wrong At UFC Fight Night Sacramento

Because a lot of people feel like Paige VanZant was foisted upon them — declared the one to watch and the “next big thing” in the strawweight division — almost instantaneously following her first UFC victory, the narratives that have surrounded the 22-year-old fighter as she’s prepared to hit the cage have frequently carried a great doubtful tone.

While young talents frequently are put in a position to prove themselves against more established veterans, the questions directed at VanZant rarely have been about the caliber of opponent she’s about to face. Instead, they have often been questions seemingly designed to get the Team Alpha Male representative to declare, “You’re right — I don’t deserve to be here and my skills are lacking.”

Please note: If you’re waiting for VanZant to say something along those lines, get comfortable because you’re going to be waiting a mighty long time.

“Every conversation before each fight seems to be the same — that I’m not prepared — but that’s just what the media says,” says VanZant, who takes an “it doesn’t impact me either way” approach to constantly being asked to justify her place in the UFC ecosystem.

“I’m definitely used to it by now and I just don’t let anything that people say get to me. I’ve had a lot of haters in my life and I know that nothing they say means anything at all and that it’s just about those closest to you. I have a lot of confidence in my team. I have a lot of confidence in myself and I know I’m here for a reason. I was put in this position because I belong here.”