Claudia Gadelha ‘Guarantees’ Paige VanZant Would Lose To Anyone In Top 5
Even though she handled former No. 6-ranked contender Felice Herrig with an impressive showing at April’s UFC on FOX 15, rising strawweight Paige VanZant’s team is in no hurry to get her booked in a title fight.
And No. 2-ranked Claudia Gadelha, who many feel was robbed against current champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk back at UFC on FOX 13, fully agrees with that point of view. Speaking with the Brazilian media (via MMAFighting) recently, Gadelha believes that VanZant just isn’t quite ready to take on the challenge that a deserving top 5-ranked fighter presents:
“I don’t think you can put her against the lions yet,” she said. “If you put her against anyone from the top 5, she can’t win. She’s a good fighter, super talented, and the UFC is doing a good marketing on her. She sells well, but still has a lot to learn. She’s too young. She just started in this sport.”
Gadelha respects VanZant for her obvious amount of raw talent, and also noted that she’s in a good situation training with California’s famed Team Alpha Male. But according to the Brazilian fighter, beating Herrig wasn’t a good enough gauge of where she’s at in terms of true top-level competition, and she still has a long way to go before she fights for the belt:
“She’s aggressive and has a good cardio, but still has a lot to learn. She’s starting now. She’s training in a good team, but I think (VanZant and Herrig) still have a lot to evolve in the division. They are both well ranked, but still have a long way to go before fighting for the title.”
With a lucrative sponsorship with Reebok in place, Gadelha acknowledged that VanZant is playing the game correctly, something that can only be good for the sport. However, she guaranteed that anyone in the top 5 would give “12 Gauge” problems:
“She’s a beautiful fighter and knows how to sell her image, and that’s good for the UFC, but I guarantee she wouldn’t do well against any top 5 fighter.”
At only 21 years old, VanZant knows she has a lot of time to become the youngest UFC champion ever. She’s in no rush to get that opportunity, and that could be a good thing based on the combined experience levels of the 115-pound top 5.
Still, she came from behind to batter a respected veteran in Herrig, signifying that VanZant’s ceiling is extremely high.
Should she face a top-ranked test when she returns to the cage later on this year?
Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale for USA TODAY Sports
