Paige VanZant following in Ronda Rousey’s footsteps to Hollywood

UFC strawweight Paige VanZant is captivating a growing fanbase as she competes on Monday night in the finals of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

VanZant’s time spent on the dance show competition has opened doors for the 6-2 mixed martial artists as Deadline.com reports that VanZant will make her debut on the big screen in Kickboxer: Retaliation.

From Deadline:

VanZant will play Gamon, a 26-year-old with high-level fighting and shooting skills with some strong criminal connections too. The role was specifically written for VanZant after producers saw her on the ABC dancing competition show this season. “Paige is the up-and-coming darling of the UFC and her star quality shines through on camera,” producer Rob Hickman of Our House Films said in a statement. “She’s a tremendous asset to the film both as an onscreen talent and as a trainer fighter.”

According to IMDB, Kickboxer: Retaliation is dated for 2017.