After trading steps to a second place finish on CTVs Dancing With The Stars, UFC fighter Paige VanZant is ready to trade punches with Bec Rawlings as she makes her Octagon return at UFC Vancouver on August 27th.

The 22-year-old was just happy to get back to the physicality and her familiar confines once again.

"It feels amazing, I've missed being at my home gym in Sacramento and training with my team, it's a whole different atmosphere and there is really nothing like MMA training, so it's great to be back," VanZant told TSN.ca.

"The reason that I picked Team Alpha Male was because as soon as I walked into the gym I was immediately accepted and part of a family and you have a lot of people that are there for you.  I get to learn from a lot of very talented people."

Tickets for UFC Vancouver are on sale now, go to UFC.ca for more details.

Following her runner-up finish on the popular reality show, VanZant reportedly received a lot of interest from other organizations to continue her career outside of the Octagon rather than returning to fighting.  In her eyes, there was no point that she ever stopped fighting in the first place.

"I'm an MMA fighter, I never really felt that I left, I just took a momentary pause so I could be on Dancing With the Stars and it was a great opportunity and I feel like I brought a lot of new fans to the UFC," said VanZant. 

"I'm a fighter and this is where I belong, but I'm going to pursue every opportunity that comes my way because why not? Why would I turn down these amazing opportunities? Right now I'm 100 per cent focused on this fight so I'm going to get in there, win this fight and see what opportunities come next."

In her return bout, she'll face the Australian Rawlings, who is on a two-fight winning streak, including a unanimous decision victory over Seo Hee Ham earlier this year.  VanZant is ready for the challenge.

"She's a tough fighter, I grew up watching her when she fought for Invicta," said VanZant.   "She's a tough opponent, but I want to fight the best and I'm ready to get back in there and get a good win over her."

After three straight victories in the UFC, VanZant suffered her first loss in the promotion in her last fight, a fifth round submission loss at the hands of Rose Namajunas that left her face bloody post fight.

VanZant sees the loss as an opportunity to learn and improve.

"Obviously it was a test, a great test and I learned a lot from that fight," said VanZant.  "It's all about how you recover and move forward.  You have to learn from the loss, you can't let that define you and you can't let that hold you back, you have to grow through it."

"I definitely think I've done that and I've worked on a lot of things, I'm back at the gym training 100 per cent and you can't let a loss define you.  I'm ready to get back in there, back on the winning side of things and put on a great performance here in Canada."

Speaking of Canada, VanZant grew up  in the American north-west and can't wait to fight in front of the Vancouver faithful.

"I'm excited, I love Canada," said VanZant.  "I grew up in Oregon so now being here feels kinda similar.  I love everybody here and I'm really excited for my first fight out of the country that this is where I get to be."