Rachael Ostovich (born February 25, 1991) is an American

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

who competes in the

Flyweight Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing up to and including 51 kg (112 lb) for a title fight. Professional boxing The flyweight division was the last of boxin ...

division. A professional since 2014, she has competed in the UFC and Invicta Fighting Championships. After being released from the UFC, she made her debut for

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is an American bare-knuckle boxing promotion based in Philadelphia. The promotion was founded in April 2018, and is presided over by David Feldman. BKFC is the first promotion to hold an official st ...

in 2021.

Background

Ostovich attended Moanalua High School and competed in

cheerleading Cheerleading is an activity in which the participants (called cheerleaders) cheer for their team as a form of encouragement. It can range from chanting slogans to intense Physical exercise, physical activity. It can be performed to motivate s ...

judo is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, combat sport, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyc ...

, and

wrestling Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves di ...

. She began wrestling at 7 years of age, followed by cheerleading after seeing ''Bring It On'', and judo in the off-season. She became

team captain In team sport, captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field. In eithe ...

for all three sports in high school. Ostovich placed third at the 2008 HHSAA judo state championships, and placed first in 2009. She also placed first in the state for cheerleading, and third for wrestling. Ostovich was a

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

(MMA) fan from childhood, citing her father Robert "Bob-O" Ostovich and

Gina Carano Gina Joy Carano (born April 16, 1982) is an American actress and former Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. She competed in Elite Xtreme Combat and Strikeforce (mixed martial arts), Strikeforce from 2006 to 2009, where she compiled a 7– ...

as inspirations. Her father is a former professional fighter, trainer, and promoter. Her brother Robby is also a professional fighter. She trains out of her family's gym, Jesus Is Lord. Ostovich originally began training for MMA because she wanted to continue competing in sports after high school.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Ostovich began her amateur MMA career in 2010. Over the next three years, she compiled an amateur MMA record of 6–0, winning the 808 Battle Ground

bantamweight Bantamweight is a weight class in combat sports and weightlifting. For boxing, the range is above and up to . In kickboxing, a bantamweight fighter generally weighs between . In mixed martial arts, MMA, bantamweight is . The name for the class ...

championship, Destiny

flyweight Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing up to and including 51 kg (112 lb) for a title fight. Professional boxing The flyweight division was the last of boxin ...

and bantamweight championships. Ostovich made her professional MMA debut in January 2014 in her native Hawaii. She went 1–1 before joining Invicta Fighting Championships

Invicta FC

Ostovich debuted for the all-female Invicta Fighting Championships in December 2014. She faced Evva Johnson at Invicta FC 10 and won the fight by split decision. In her second bout for the promotion, Ostovich faced Andrea Lee on September 12, 2015, at Invicta FC 14. She lost the bout via verbal submission to an armbar in the third round. In her third bout for the promotion, Ostovich faced Ariel Beck on May 7, 2016, at Invicta FC 17. She won the bout via a split decision. In her fourth fight for the promotion, Ostovich faced Christine Ferea on January 14, 2017, at Invicta FC 21. She lost the fight via TKO in the third round, bringing her Invicta FC record to 2–2 before joining ''The Ultimate Fighter''.

The Ultimate Fighter

In August 2017, it was announced that Ostovich would be one of the fighters featured on '' The Ultimate Fighter 26'', where the process to crown the UFC's inaugural 125-pound women's champion will take place. In the opening round, Ostovich defeated Melinda Fábián by rear-naked choke submission. In the quarterfinals, she faced Barb Honchak and lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Ostovich faced Karine Gevorgyan on December 1, 2017, at The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale. She won the fight via armbar submission in the first round. Ostovich faced Montana De La Rosa on July 6, 2018, at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale. She lost the fight via rear-naked choke in round three. Ostovich was scheduled to face Paige VanZant on January 19, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 1. It was reported on November 18, 2018, that Ostovich was violently assaulted, sustaining a broken orbital bone and other injuries, and due to the injuries she sustained, she pulled out from the fight against VanZant. On November 27, the bout between Ostovich and VanZant was confirmed to push through on January 19, 2019, after Ostovich was cleared to fight by her doctor. Ostovich lost the fight by submission via armbar in the second round. Ostovich was scheduled to face Veronica Macedo on August 10, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 14, but Ostovich was replaced by Polyana Viana for unknown reasons. Ostovich was scheduled to face Shana Dobson at UFC Fight Night 168 in Auckland, New Zealand on February 23, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 168. However, Ostovich was removed from the bout due to testing positive for ostarine, and she was replaced by

Priscila Cachoeira Priscila Cachoeira Gomes da Silva (born 19 August 1988) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the women's Flyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Personal life Cachoeira had a troubled childhood growing ...

. On June 18, it was announced that Ostovich had accepted a USADA suspension for one year due to testing positive for ostarine, retroactive to January 3, 2020. Ostovich tested positive for Ostarine and GW1516 on January 3, 2020, and she was suspended by USADA for eight months. The prohibited substance was found in one of her supplements and was not listed on the supplement label. Ostovich faced

Gina Mazany Gina Mazany (born August 19, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She formerly competed in King of the Cage in the Bantamweight (MMA), Bantamweight division. Background Mazany was ...

on November 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Lewis. She lost the fight via third round TKO from body kicks. After 3 straight losses, Ostovich was released by the UFC on December 7, 2020.

Bare-knuckle boxing

On April 27, 2021, Ostovich and

both announced that she had signed with the organization and is expected to make her debut in July. On May 27, 2021, it was announced that Ostovich is scheduled to face Paige VanZant – whom she lost to in mixed martial arts at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw – at BKFC 19 on July 23, 2021. She won the bout via unanimous decision. This fight earned her the ''Fight of the Night'' award.

Personal life

Domestic violence

On November 18, 2018, Ostovich was assaulted in her hometown of Honolulu, leaving her with a broken orbital bone. The perpetrator is alleged to be her husband, Arnold Berdon, who is also an MMA fighter. Ostovich filed and was granted a temporary restraining order against her husband effective until May 19, 2019. Berdon was arrested on November 20, 2018, for second-degree assault (felony) and he was released on a bond of $75,000. The case was investigated by the

Honolulu Police Department The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) is the principal law enforcement agency of the Honolulu County, Hawaii, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, headquartered in the Alapa'i Police Headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii, Honolulu CDP. Officially re ...

. A nine-minute video taken by a witness and obtained by ''

Hawaii News Now ''Hawaii News Now'' (also abbreviated as ''HNN'') is a news department shared by three television stations in Honolulu, Hawaii: CBS affiliate KGMB (channel 5), NBC affiliate KHNL (channel 13), and Telemundo affiliate KFVE (channel 6). The ...

'' captures Berdon repeatedly saying "I’m going to murder you. I’m going to fucking murder you," and Ostovich’s cries for help. On December 20, 2018, Berdon plead not guilty in connection with the case. The trial's next hearing was in March 2019, where Berdon pleaded no contest on the case. The sentencing took place on May 16, 2019, in a Honolulu court and Berdon was sentenced to four-year probation in a domestic assault. Ostovich's divorce decree was filed with full custody of their six-year-old daughter.

Championships and accomplishments

Bare-knuckle boxing

** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Paige VanZant

Mixed martial arts record

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ostovich, Rachael 1991 births Living people American female judoka American female mixed martial artists American women boxers American bare-knuckle boxers Flyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists from Hawaii Mixed martial artists utilizing judo Ultimate Fighting Championship female fighters 21st-century American sportswomen