Sherdog’s Top 10: Rising Stars, 2015 First Edition

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3. Paige VanZant
Division: Women’s Strawweight
Record: 5-1, 2-0 UFC
Age: 21

When the UFC decides to invest in a fighter, it usually has a good sense of what it is doing. The fact that they have poured these kinds of resources -- appearances at UFC events and on UFC programming, social media exposure, a slot on a Fox card -- into VanZant says a great deal about the kind of star the UFC thinks she can become. So, too, does the Reebok deal with which she was rewarded prior to her second fight in the promotion.

There is no doubting VanZant’s marketability, but as a fighter she has shown serious promise. Her greatest assets are her athleticism and especially her pace: She is essentially a pressure fighter whose game revolves around relentless forward movement into the clinch, where she chips away with knees, punches and elbows until she can get a takedown. Once VanZant ends up on top, she drops an unceasing stream of ground strikes until the final bell sounds or her opponent quits. Her approach is not particularly complicated and there are still serious holes in her game, but for a 21-year-old with six professional fights and three years of experience, it is an excellent foundation upon which to build.

The talk of titles is premature, particularly with Joanna Jedrzejczyk ruling the division with a pair of iron fists, but in a year or so, VanZant will likely be ready for a shot at the division’s elite. Until then, she is an excellent bet to amplify her already significant exposure and break through into real stardom.

Number 2 » His skills are outstanding, but what makes him a star on the rise is his personality. He is affable, funny, charismatic, smart and understands the importance of working the media in growing his profile.