I haven't seen the official scorecard yet, but it is possible that 3 (maybe 4) of those rounds were 10 - 8. Think of that. If it was 3 rounds that would mean it was potentially a 50 - 41 fight had it gone the distance... and when a fight is that one-sided it usually doesn't make it into the 5th round.
Usually I don't give people credit for just taking a beating, but as long as Paige learns from this fight I say she deserves credit for not giving up.
Van Zant could have easily given up and said "I don't want to deal with this shit because it's not fun tonight" but she didn't.
So PVZ can take that as a positive, that she was able to be "outclassed" (as she called it in the post-fight press conference) and still almost make it to the final horn.
I feel she also deserves credit for realizing her (current) limitations. Like she said last night - she's new, and she is still young. She still has room to grow & develop the skills she doesn't currently have in her arsenal. PVZ wasn't a "one trick pony" but think of how scary she will be when she does add the necessary skills to compete with the elite in the division!
It is understandable that Paige was disheartened after what happened last night, anyone would have been. Even Ronda Rousey felt the way Van Zant did after her loss... so maybe PVZ can learn from the former Bantamweight champion and hopefully she can get back up and come back stronger than ever!
I saw many articles posted last night that appeared to be happy that Paige lost, and even some people asked Dana White questions about how he felt now that another fighter he was heavily promoting was defeated. I say that people who were happy to proclaim that the "hype train was derailed" should be ashamed of themselves.
She was a young fighter trying to prove herself... to dismiss her accomplishments as only "hype" is insulting to all the hard work this amazing young woman has put in. It's no secret that I'm not a fan of many Team Alpha Male fighters... but I don't deny that they are an elite gym - and for someone like Paige to be able to hang with those thoroughbreds is proof that she's not "hype".
She lost... it happens. Get over it people. She was someone who was positive & not prone to :poop: talking - so if you're one of the people reveling in her loss and how she was emotional at the post-fight press conference, that says more about you than it does Paige. (and not in a good way)
I have faith that PVZ will be back to her winning ways soon. I believe that this loss will teach her more about herself & what she can do than all of her success has up to this point in her career.
I look forward to what is next for Van Zant. In a division of tough competitors & talented fighters Paige won't just be some undeserving fighter thrown to the sharks... she will become one of those sharks.
I wish Paige the very best in everything she does!
