How Paige VanZant became a big winner after losing
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It’s not often that a fighter makes new fans in a one-sided loss, but Paige VanZant is a rare commodity in mixed martial arts.The 22-year-old strawweight is on course to become the UFC’s next pay-per-view star.Retired boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. used an appearance on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” to widen his appeal beyond boxing fans, and it was a part of the reason why he became the biggest draw in the business. And VanZant, who was the runner-up last season on DWTS, has already received a boost from the exposure she received from the show.“A lot of my experiences have been the same [as Mayweather’s],” said VanZant, who returns to action for the first time since starring on the dancing show when she takes on Bec Rawlings on Saturday in Vancouver in a fight that will be televised on Fox.“Not a lot of older women know much about MMA, but they watch that show,” she explained. “I’ve gotten a lot of older generation fans who I’ve been able to share my story with. It gave me a b...