Updated: Paige VanZant signs new UFC contract, will fight Joanne Calderwood next

Streaking Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) strawweight contender and Reebok it-girl Paige VanZant is slowly but surely creeping her way toward the upper echelon of the promotion's 115-pound division, currently ruled by unbeaten striker Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

So how about taking a fight against The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 20 standout Randa Markos?

"Her manager, Mike Roberts, says they want to get a new contract before her next fight," Ariel Helwani said on UFC Tonight. "Randa Markos has been very vocal and wants to fight her. She's pissed that Paige has passed her up in the rankings."

That apparently was not what the promotion had in mind for "12-Gauge."

Instead, VanZant -- who today signed a contract extension with the world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) league -- will headline UFC Fight Night 80, which takes place inside The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 10, 2015, opposite The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 20 alum, Joanne Calderwood.

VanZant (6-1) won all three of her fights inside the Octagon with two finishes (including this one), while Calderwood most recently earned a unanimous decision over Cortney Casey at UFC Fight Night 72 this past summer. As it stands, "12 Gauge" is ranked No. 6 on the official list (see it here), while "JoJo" sits at No. 8.

UPDATE: Seems like VanZant got what she wanted ... at least from a contract perspective:

Just signed a new @ufc deal and got my next fight lined up ;) pic.twitter.com/EaT8NRpbEx

— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) September 17, 2015