UFC on FOX 15's Felice Herrig: Paige VanZant not dangerous anywhere

NEW YORK – One would be forgiven for thinking the main event of UFC on FOX 15 is the women’s strawweight bout between Felice Herrig and Paige VanZant based on the amount of attention the women have drawn during fight week.

It’s been a media blitz for the two women and much of their time has been spent together fulfilling media obligations for the event, which takes place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Herrig (10-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and VanZant (4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) open up the main card on FOX following prelims on FOX and UFC Fight Pass.

For some fighters that kind of close quarters interaction in the days before a fight would have them on edge. For Herrig, however, it’s just a part of the job and she doesn’t feel that there’s any bad blood between the two as they head into the fight.

“There’s no relationship with Paige,” Herrig told MMAjunkie. “She’s my opponent. The UFC put us in a situation to have to do all of our media together. It is what it is. We both go out there, we’re professionals, we show that. I’m not going to sit here and have beef with her when I don’t. I’m not going to try to smack talk her during the interviews. I’m not going to give her dirty looks. There’s no bad blood, that’s all about professionalism. There doesn’t have to be bad blood going into a fight. That doesn’t change the fact that we’re two athletes, come fight night we’re going to go in there, we’re going to do our thing, we’re probably going to hug it out afterward. Maybe even I’ll buy her a shot after I beat her. It is what it is. We’re not friends by any means. I’m not going to feel bad putting my fists on her face.”

Lack of bad blood aside, Herrig isn’t willing to extend her respect for VanZant too far.

In fact, she doesn’t actually view the 21 year old as much of a challenge.

“As far as Paige goes, I don’t really think that she’s dangerous anywhere,” Herrig said. “Of course it’s a fight, it’s a MMA fight, so you have to be prepared for anything. You can never underestimate anybody, but if I actually look at Paige’s skills and my skills I don’t think she’s dangerous striking. I don’t think she’s dangerous on the ground. I don’t think she’s a dangerous grappler. I don’t think she possesses too much of a threat. I think I should be able to beat her anywhere the fight goes.”

For more on UFC on FOX 15, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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