VanZant on Taco Bell, and more
UFC star’s idea of a perfect guy ‘has to like to eat junk food at midnight’
Whether you’ve seen her throwing down in the Octagon or strutting her stuff and earning perfect scores on the most recent season of Dancing with the Stars, there is no denying Paige VanZant has the combination of skills and talent that mix to produce that certain je ne sais quoi everyone calls ‘The It Factor.’
But the 22-year-old rising star, who returns to action in Vancouver against Bec Rawlings at UFC FOX: Maia vs. Condit Aug. 27 at Rogers Arena, is as down to Earth as they come — just a fun-loving, junkfood-eating, face-punching single girl who can quote Step Brothers.
“Did we just become best friends?”
Q You finished in the runner-up position on this most recent season of Dancing with the Stars. What was your favourite dance and what was your least favourite dance?
A My favourite dances, by far, were both salsa dances. My salsa style was the most fun — it was sexy and fast — and the jive was really fun too. Least favourite? Foxtrot — for sure, the foxtrot. It just wasn’t fun. It wasn’t exciting. You had to be in a specific frame and you couldn’t let loose. Foxtrot was the least favourite.
Q After spending all that time together and forming that ‘teammate bond,’ how much do you keep in touch with your dance partner, Mark Ballas?
A We were together every day for like three months and we stay in touch; we’re really supportive of each other. He’s touring with his fiancée (singer-songwriter B.C. Jean) right now — they have a show in San Francisco coming up and I want to try to go to that, and then hopefully he’ll make it out to one of my fights. Maybe not this one because it’s in a different country, but eventually.
Q You were put on the spot on national television, asked if
you and one of the professionals, Alan Bersten, were dating and there were plenty of giggles and blushing, but there was no actual answer and people want to know. … A The answer is no. That whole question is no, but hey, you might as well add drama for a reality TV show, right?
Q OK — so instead of ‘Who is the guy?’ let’s go with characteristics of the ideal Paige VanZant guy.
A That’s a good question. I’ve been single for a while now; it’s been a good year, almost.
So I think funny — he has to have a good sense of humour.
I’m thinking I want someone who is driven and successful, but in a different field — maybe a professional chef or a chiropractor. A chiropractor would be great. A dentist. Somebody nice who is goal-oriented and driven, has their own things going on, but is also supportive of my crazy career.
Q But no height requirements, specific hair colour, nothing like that?
A No height requirements, no specific hair colour — just a smart, driven, funny guy. He has to like to eat junk food at midnight. Late-night Taco Bell runs are super-important.
Q You just mentioned junk food, so let’s run down some of your favourites. A My go-to cheat meal is Taco Bell and I absolutely love it. I get the quesarito — the beef quesarito is my absolute favourite.
Candy-wise, I love all gummy candies. I’m not a huge, huge chocolate person, but I do like chocolate. Movie theatre popcorn — I will go to the movies just for the popcorn and see something if I have to. Q You mentioned the movies, so we’ll keep this flowing wherever you take it. Favourite movie and favourite kind of movie? A Favourite movie is Step Brothers. (As for favourite type of movie), it depends what kind of mood I’m in. I love comedies, but I will see romantic-comedies when I want to cry and I really like kids movies. Q In or out on scary movies? A You know, scary movies are hard for me. I’ll go and watch them and I like them, but I will have nightmares for a good six days afterwards. Q Alright — what about music? What are you listening to when you’re training and what are you listening to when you’re relaxing? A When I train, I like to listen to hip hop and rap; I feel like it gets me in the fight mood and ready to throw down. Outside of the gym, I listen to a lot of country music, Christian music, alternative. … Q The nickname ‘12 Gauge’ — strictly taken because it rhymed? A It rhymed, one, but I also grew up hunting. I’m from a very, very small town in Oregon called Dayton, Ore. — lived there my first 15 years and I’m a country girl at heart, so ‘12 Gauge’ fit. Q You did some cheerleading earlier in life. What’s more dangerous, being on top of a cheerleading pyramid or fighting MMA? A I’ve got hurt way worse cheerleading than fighting. Q What’s the worst injury you’ve suffered? A Dancing, I fractured my tailbone, so that’s probably the worst injury I’ve suffered. I tore a rotator cuff. I’ve got some sprained ankles and knees from cheerleading, but not so bad from MMA — I’ve got six stitches in my face thanks to Rose Namajunas and that’s about it. E. Spencer Kyte covers the UFC for The Province. Follow him on social media, Twitter.com/spencerkyte.