Paige VanZant after first UFC loss: 'I got outclassed in every way'

Paige VanZant was hit hard by the first loss of her UFC career when she was brought to tears at UFC Fight Night 80’s post-fight press conference after her loss to Rose Namajunas.

VanZant (6-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) was the betting favorite against Namajunas (4-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in Saturday’s main event, but the result was a one-sided affair in which “12 Gauge” had to battle through a mask of blood, several submission attempts and a high volume of punches before succumbing to a rear-naked choke in the fifth round.

After starting her UFC career with three consecutive victories, VanZant was promoted heavily by the UFC and garnered talk as a potential title contender. The defeat marked a major blow to her momentum and afterward VanZant was crushed by the result.

“I got outclassed in every way,” VanZant told MMAjunkie at the post-fight press conference. “I guess when I got hit I got rocked pretty bad. I’m new; I got to get my technique better.”

Despite the fact that Namajunas entered the fight or short notice as a replacement for Joanne Calderwood, she put on a near-perfect fight before the eventual finish. “Thug Rose” fought five-round bout in her UFC debut and that experience showed.

VanZant said she hopes to take her own lessons from the fight and put them to use going forward.

“I’m just new; I got a lot to learn,” VanZant said. “Just working with my team – I’m trying not to cry, guys – just working with my team, trying to get my technique better. You can’t just be aggressive to win fights. I just wasn’t prepared for that fight.”

Although she was on the wrong end of a lopsided contest, VanZant’s spirit didn’t appear to be broken after the fight. She displayed tremendous heart throughout more than 22 minutes of battle but said it’s going to take added skills to be successful in her next fight, which she hopes takes place as soon as possible.

“I’m ready to get back in the gym as soon as possible,” VanZant said. “I feel great still; obviously, I took a little damage to my face. But I want to get back in there as soon as possible. I have the heart, I have the aggression, I don’t have the technique yet, and I think everyone’s known that.”

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 80, check out the UFC Events section of the site.