Unbeaten teen prospect “12 Gauge” Paige VanZant has stepped in on short notice to face Amber “The Apex Predator” Stautzenberger at Premier Fight Series 2 on September 22nd in Fort Worth, Texas. VanZant replaces Ivana Coleman, who withdrew from the bout with Stautzenberger this week.

VanZant made a successful pro debut in June by edging out Jordan Nicole Gaza after three competitive rounds. She now returns to Texas to face off against another local favourite in Stautzenberger, who turns pro after putting together a solid amateur career that included three stoppage victories.

VanZant (1-0-0) needed just 50 seconds to win her amateur MMA debut in April and the 18-year-old wasted no time in making the jump to the professional ranks when the short-notice bout with Gaza was offered in June. She engaged in a spirited back-and-forth battle with Gaza through three rounds and survived a pair of tight choke attempts to take a Split Decision victory. The win immediately put VanZant on the map as one of the top young prospects at 115 pounds. Having recently relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, and now representing the RYU Fight Team, VanZant aims to keep her perfect record intact when she faces the more experienced Stautzenberger later this month.

Stautzenberger (4-3-0 amateur) began her career with wins in four of her first six fights and opted to make the move down to 115 pounds earlier this year. Despite a tough weight cut, Stautzenberger was very competitive in her strawweight debut and took highly-touted prospect Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres the distance in a three-round title fight in July. Stautzenberger had planned to take one more amateur bout on August 11th in South Carolina, but her fight was cancelled after the tragic death of amateur fighter Tyrone Mims earlier in the night. The jiu-jitsu specialist now makes the move to the pro ranks against VanZant and has an opportunity to pick up a big victory in her home state.

Premier Fight Series 2 takes place on September 22nd at LaGrave Field in Fort Worth, Texas.