Paige VanZant raised eyebrows last week – during UFC 217, mind you – when she tweeted that her first fight in the women’s flyweight division would be against the winner of “The Ultimate Fighter 26.” Which, in theory, that would mean VanZant claimed she was granted an immediate title shot, since “TUF 26” is crowning the inaugural 125-pound women’s champion, which the UFC denied . Collectively, the MMA community’s reaction was probably something along the lines of this Nicolas Cage GIF: via GIPHY Because, c’mon, VanZant (7-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) hasn’t exactly performed at a championship level of late. She hasn’t fought since December of last year – when she was choked out by Michelle Waterson – and is 1-2 in her last three fights. An immediate title shot in a new division? It doesn’t seem right.
Originally posted here: