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UFC’s Paige VanZant advances to ‘Dancing With the Stars’ finals [Videos]

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Paige VanZant one day wants to wear an Ultimate Fighting Championship belt, but the more immediate prize before her is the “Dancing With the Stars” mirror ball.

VanZant and her partner Mark Ballas rode their strong showing in two dances this week, including the tango, to Monday’s finals on ABC against “Good Morning America” weather forecaster Ginger Zee and Nyle DiMarco of “America’s Next Top Model,” who’s deaf.

“I honestly thought there was no way I’d make it to the finals – a lot of great competition, amazing people on the show – but I’m getting a lot of votes (all the votes from the MMA fans, it seems), and I made it,” VanZant told the Los Angeles Times in a Wednesday telephone conversation.

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The UFC strawweight advanced as the only remaining athlete following the elimination of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, and her first number with partner Mark Ballas generated a perfect score from the judges.

“I feel the best few dancers are left,” VanZant said. “Ginger is amazing. She’s had a lot of great routines, and Nyle has had a lot of amazing routines that’ve made me tear up just because of how impactful they were. I’m honored I’ve made it this far. At this point, it’s a success in itself. Of course, I want to win the mirror ball.

“I was given this opportunity for a reason, and I need to follow through with it 100%.”

VanZant entered the competition with no ballroom dancing experience of any kind. Her ballet and jazz dance experience as a youth, along with athleticism she’s honed while maintaining some MMA training in her off hours in Los Angeles, have impressed the judges along with Ballas’ creativity in crafting routines.

Meanwhile, VanZant in the past few weeks has made news by nearing her next bout, possibly in UFC 202 in September, and when it was revealed that she’d been confronted by Ronda Rousey after congratulating Holly Holm about her victory over Rousey in November.

“I never had any frustrations with her. Apparently, I upset her,” VanZant said. “Hopefully, it goes away soon. I also understand fighters are emotional. We wear our emotions on our sleeve. I have nothing but love for her.”

VanZant said she has expressed similar post-fight reactions “with my parents, maybe … it takes a certain type of person to be a fighter. It was heated in the moment [with Rousey], she just lost her temper. It was just a bad day, and I have no frustrations toward her at all.”

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