Paige VanZant’s ‘Toy Story’ dancing success tied to her UFC training

The rigors of “Dancing With the Stars” typically lead to participants discussing the peak physical shape they reach in their demanding preparation for the show.

Ultimate Fighting Championship strawweight Paige VanZant began the competition with world-class cardio, and she’s complementing her dance practice with morning mixed martial arts training.

“I’m definitely fine-tuning. I’m a fighter first, so I want to stay fight-ready at all times,” VanZant told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday. “I am making sure I put a lot into the dance. It’s been a fun experience. I feel like I’m creating a really good balance.

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“Obviously, I don’t think there’s any better training than MMA training if you put everything into it. You do [so much] to get you in shape. And it’s been a great break [for my] body doing impact training -- a lot less contact training -- and all the little injuries I’ve had have healed. I think the next fight I have will be my best yet.”

After VanZant produced another strong outing with dance partner Mark Ballas on Monday’s fourth show, scoring a 36 that came courtesy of four scores of nine from the three regular judges plus guest judge/Disney star Zendaya, judge Carrie Ann Inaba praised VanZant’s dancing and work as “Toy Story 2’s” “Jessie,” with Ballas as “Woody,” in a quickstep number.

“You’re athleticism carried you,” Inaba said.

VanZant, dancing in boots, and Ballas tossed their hats early in the number, then later were surrounded by troupe dancers as toy soldiers. VanZant and Ballas danced in marionette poses briefly, then capped the number by falling backward motionless on the ground, as the characters on “Toy Story” would do when humans entered a room.

“All Disney movies end with a happy note. That’s what you did,” judge Len Goodman told VanZant and Ballas after their show-closing performance that has them near the overall points lead.

Judge Bruno Tonioli praised the dance for going “to infinity and beyond,” teasing VanZant as a “naughty little girl [doing] things like that on the floor you should not be doing.”

VanZant’s strong showing makes her a strong contender to win the competition, but she downplayed that pursuit.

Asked if she’s driven to victory as she is in fighting, VanZant said: “No. I’m a fighter first. This isn’t my job. … I’ve never done any ballroom dancing whatsoever. … I feel really good about it, being a part of the show.”

The morning MMA training is a more serious pursuit, as she’s worked with coaches she was pointed to in L.A. by her Sacramento-based Team Alpha Male leader, bantamweight title challenger Urijah Faber.

Although VanZant was beaten up and bloodied in her December loss to Rose Namajunas, her heightened profile could one day launch her toward a title fight. She said she doesn’t have a next fight date, but expects something in the summer.

“That’s not something that I’m even thinking about,” she said of a title shot. “I did just come off a loss. I need to fix areas that went wrong in my last fight. I’m focused on being the best fighter I can be.”

Voting for VanZant can be done until 5 p.m. Pacific time Tuesday here and here, with more information at VanZant’s Twitter profile, @PaigeVanZantUFC.

Twitter: @latimespugmire