Former UFC Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw wasn’t the only high profile departure from Team Alpha Male, as female fighter Paige VanZant left the team a few months back.
Now that she’s back home in Portland, Oregon, the fighter knew after her last defeat that changes were needed.
"It was a really tough loss, it was really hard on me, but, actually, for the most part, I’m getting used to training with a new fight camp,” VanZant told MMA Fighting. "I moved back to Portland, Oregon, to be with family, so I guess I’m taking some time to adjust to a new fight team and a new gym for my upcoming fight.”
The last defeat was a submission loss to Michelle Waterson at UFC On Fox 22.
One big change in her training is the assistance of UFC veteran and current Bellator MMA fighter Chael Sonnen.
"Me and Chael Sonnen have the same management team. I’ve been friends with Chael for a while,” VanZant said. "I knew he was in Portland and he had a really successful fight team out in Portland. I just called him and he really took me under his wing, he set me up with a great MMA gym, which is Gracie Barra with Fabiano, and he also set me up with an amazing conditioning program, Dave. Chael really took me under his wing and set me up with everything I needed. I definitely do (feel a better fighter). I can see myself growing. Training with Fabiano, he has some of the best jiu-jitsu I've ever had in my life, so I can definitely see the difference in my fight game because of him. I can already tell I’m getting a lot better. It’s really cool to be working with someone so positive and so talented like he is.”
VanZant doesn’t have a fight scheduled at the moment, but she’s expected to compete again by the end of the year.
