UFC president Dana White told Paige VanZant that she was a lock to be on Season 20 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Turns out that, since she is not yet 21 years old, the four-fight veteran was not allowed to be a part of the historic season that will crown the first UFC 115-pound champ.
The Nevada fighter will still get her chance to make a mark in the UFC, however, as the promotion just announced that VanZant will make her debut against Kailin Curran in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on a UFC Fight Night card Oct. 4. When VanZant steps into the Octagon this fall, she will become the youngest woman to ever fight in the UFC (at 20) and the second-youngest fighter, overall, currently on the UFC roster.
VanZant is 3-1 in her young career and won her last fight via rear naked choke over Courtney Himes. VanZant has not yet fought in 2014.
Also on the Oct. 4 UFC Fight Night card will be No .1 bantamweight contender Raphael Assuncao taking on Bryan Caraway, who has won two straight fights. Assuncao has won six in a row.
The Brazilian was actually set to challenge then-champion Renan Barao this past year before pulling out due to injury and being replaced by Dillashaw. Dillashaw, of course, went on to shock the world and beat Barao to become the new 135-pound champion.
Assuncao is the last man to have beaten Dillashaw, back in 2013. Welterweights Rory MacDonald and Tarec Saffiedine will also square off on the same card.
