Paige VanZant’s Future in the UFC; Talks of WWE’s SummerSlam

Paige Van Zant (Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images)

Lesnar for Van Zant?

UFC Strawweight Paige Van Zant took the dance floor by storm on the most recent season’s run of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, coming up short of the Mirror Ball trophy when she grabbed the runner up spot in the shows finale with pro-dancing partner Mark Ballas.

So what’s next for PVZ? Maybe not the UFC octagon just yet, but the ring. The WWE ring that is.

Van Zant’s manager, Mike Roberts, confirmed to FOX Sports on Monday that WWE has expressed interested in the 22-year-old running the ropes at this year’s SummerSlam on August 21. While no talk of what the story line would entail, or how big her appearance would be, discussions are under way.

What does this mean for the top ranked Strawweights’ return to the UFC? Van Zant appeared on UFC Tonight to address her anticipated return to the octagon, after losing a hard fought battle to third ranked Strawweight Rose Namajunas this past December.

“I’m jumping head-first back in the fight world,” PVZ told UFC Tonight on Wednesday. “I miss it so much. I know how much I want to get back in there so I think for me, I have to remind myself to be patient and take a fight when I’m ready. Because mentally, I’m ready. I just have to make sure I’m physically ready as well.”

“I want to get back in the cage,” she added. “I’m going to put 100 percent in my fight because I put 100 percent into every opportunity that comes by way.”

After taking her super-stardom to the next level on DWTS, opportunities have been coming at every angle for the Team Alpha Male teammate. Van Zant will also have a role in the “Kickboxer: Retaliation” sequel filming later this year in Thailand.

Van Zant would be joining a list of past and present UFC fighters to step in the WWE ring including former UFC Heavyweight Champion and WWE Superstar Brock Lesnar, who announced his ground-breaking return as the co-main event to UFC 200 against knockout artist Mark Hunt on July 9 this past weekend.