Fast-rising strawweight star “12 Gauge” Paige VanZant is set to headline her first UFC card on December 10th at UFC Fight Night 80 in Las Vegas, Nevada. VanZant battles standout striker Joanne “JoJo” Calderwood in the 115-pound main event, which will stream live on UFC Fight Pass.
VanZant signed a new deal with the UFC earlier today and she takes a big step up in competition to face Calderwood, who has won two of her three UFC fights. The UFC Fight Night 80 card also features a second women’s strawweight matchup between prospect Kailin Curran and Emily Kagan.
VanZant (6-1-0) has rapidly become one of the UFC’s brightest stars thanks to three impressive and entertaining performances inside the Octagon. After winning her UFC debut against Curran in November, VanZant earned her biggest win to date when she shut out veteran contender Felice “Lil’ Bulldog” Herrig at UFC on FOX 15 in April. She returned to action earlier this month and secured an easy third-round submission victory over an outmatched Alex “Astro Girl” Chambers at UFC 191, and now finds herself one win away from entering the strawweight title picture.
Calderwood (10-1-0) is widely regarded as one of the premier female strikers at 115 pounds. The former Muay Thai champion began her MMA career with nine straight wins, including a decision victory over former Invicta FC champion Katja “Killer Bunny” Kankaanpää, before suffering an upset loss to Maryna “The Iron Woman” Moroz at UFC Fight Night 64 in April. Calderwood shook off the disappointing defeat and returned to the cage in July when she outpointed short-notice replacement Cortney “Cast Iron” Casey-Sanchez in a thrilling bout at UFC Fight Night 72.
On the UFC Fight Night 80 preliminary card, Curran (3-2-0) and Kagan (3-2-0) clash in a must-win battle for both. Curran put forth a strong showing in her Octagon debut before falling to VanZant, and she was in complete control of her most recent bout at UFC Fight Night 65 in May before Chambers trapped her in a fight-ending armbar. Kagan made her official UFC debut in December at the TUF 20 Finale, but suffered a Unanimous Decision loss to fellow TUF 20 contestant Angela “Overkill” Hill. The loser of the Curran-Kagan bout will likely be cut from the UFC roster.
UFC Fight Night 80: “VanZant vs Calderwood” takes place on December 10th at The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout between VanZant and Calderwood is set for five rounds.
(Photo Credit: UFC)