Paige VanZant would fight former UFC champ Ronda Rousey 'if she wants to meet at 125'

Paige VanZant is clearly not intimidated by former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey despite their less-than-friendly run-in earlier this year.

VanZant (7-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who was apparently once confronted by Rousey (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in a hostile manner for congratulating Holly Holm for her head-kick knockout of “Rowdy” at UFC 193 in November 2015, said she would gladly step in the octagon with the MMA superstar.

However, as VanZant told TMZ, there’s a catch.

“If she wants to meet at 125, (I’d fight her),” VanZant said. “I’d have to go up (from strawweight). I would consider going up to 125. It’s not that big of a weight gain for me. We’ll see if we meet at 125.”

Ronda Rousey

Before the matchup could move beyond anything but fantasy, VanZant and Rousey obviously have actual business to handle. “12 Gauge” fights Michelle Waterson (13-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on FOX 22 main event at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., while Rousey attempts to regain the 135-pound title from Amanda Nunes (13-4 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in the UFC 207 headliner on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas.

Although Rousey has been out of action for more than a year, VanZant predicts her to win the title at UFC 207. The time off could play a factor, but VanZant was out of the octagon for more than eight months prior to her knockout of Bec Rawlings at UFC on FOX 21 in August.

If Rousey has her mind straight, VanZant said she expects her to be triumphant once more.

“I don’t believe in ring rust – I believe it’s 100 percent mental,” VanZant said. “So if she’s 100 percent mentally focused on that night, then she’s going to win it. I would say Ronda by armbar.”

A matchup between VanZant and Rousey would pit arguably the two most popular active female fighters in the sport against one another. VanZant believes the size difference between the athletes would be offset by meeting in the middle, but Rousey has competed as high as 155 pounds in her career, and it’s unknown whether she could get anywhere that low.

It’s also unknown whether Rousey will even be around the sport long enough to entertain such a matchup. Rousey has hinted that – win or lose – UFC 207 could mark one of her final fights. VanZant said she wouldn’t be surprised to see her walk away.

“I think it could be her last fight,” VanZant said. “It’s a big deal for her but she’s so successful outside of fighting that she doesn’t have to fight anymore. And it’s such a violent sport it takes a lot out of you. But either way she’s had a very successful career.”

For more on UFC on FOX 22 and UFC 207, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.