MMA Junkie via Yahoo talked with Paige VanZant about her Dancing With The Stars debut. Paige also gives a sneak peek into her and Mark’s next dance. Read on and for more, see the link.
“I was really nervous,” VanZant told MMA Junkie. “The foxtrot isn’t a dance I was particularly excited about because you’re not allowed to do lifts, you’re not allowed to do certain [other] things. You have to be traditional and be in the frame, with very specific footwork. So we couldn’t be wild and crazy and have a fun routine.”
Next week will find VanZant challenged with the salsa. “We have the salsa, and it’s just an amazing routine so far,” VanZant said. “I’m excited to show off the super fun side of things. [Mark] definitely knows I have areas I need to improve on. There are still little things that are hard for me to break, being an MMA fighter.”
Although VanZant is taking an extended hiatus from competing in the Octagon, the Team Alpha Male fighter is staying on top of her training regime and squeezes workouts in during her downtime. Although it can be assumed that her MMA training may assist her in this competition, VanZant said that it doesn’t help much, if at all.
“Not a lot translates over very well,” VanZant said while citing that flexibility and cardio are two small things that help her through practice. “There are a lot of techniques that are completely different [from fighting] – keeping your head up, I’m having a hard time not keeping my shoulders forward. It’s hard to break that fighter’s stance. It’s been a little difficult for me to try to break.”