In spite of the tragic events that have transpired in UFC women’s flyweight Rachael Ostovich’s life recently, she’s refusing to skip out on her date with Paige VanZant. Ostovich was recently the victim of a domestic assault allegedly perpetrated by her husband and fellow fighter Arnold Berdon. After reportedly suffering a fractured orbital bone, it looked like Ostovich vs. VaZant, originally scheduled for UFC Brooklyn in January, would be scrapped.

Not so fast. Proving to be incredibly resilient, Ostovich is staying in the fight. ESPN first reported the news, noting that Ostovich had sought out a second opinion on her injuries. Her manager later provided a statement to MMA Junkie saying that while Ostovich’s orbital is fractured, it will be healed up in time for the fight. She’s now been cleared to fight.

Ostovich, meanwhile, said on social media that it was “God’s plan” for her to remain in the fight.

Gods plan 🙏🏼💪🏻

— rachaelostovich (@rachaelostovich) November 27, 2018

Opponent Paige VanZant also lent her support. “I couldn’t be more great full [sic]” to Rachael Ostovich, she wrote. “Yes we are going to war with each other in the cage, but I stand by her side with her ongoing battle at home.”

https://twitter.com/paigevanzant/status/1067545873205256192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Ostovich’s husband, Arnold Berdon, made his first court appearance on Monday. No plea was entered, and he’s expected back before the courts on December 18. He’s facing charges of second degree assault.

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Late Sunday, news broke that UFC flyweight Rachael Ostovich had been the victim of an assault that landed her in hospital over the weekend. The attack reportedly left her suffering from a possible broken orbital bone and other injuries. While initial details were scare, police in Honolulu have confirmed to Cageside Press that they have an investigation into the matter underway.

“The Honolulu Police Department has opened a second-degree assault investigation for an incident involving a 27-year-old female victim and a 27-year-old male suspect,” a statement from Honolulu PD representative Sarah Yoro read. “The victim and suspect were arguing prior to the assault. The victim suffered head injuries and was treated at a hospital.”

Yoro also noted that the incident took place at a residence in Waianae, part of Honolulu County, on November 18 at 2AM local time.  “The investigation is continuing, and no arrest has been made at this time,” the statement concluded.

Ostovich is married to fellow MMA fighter Anrold Berdon, a 27 year old who most recently competed under the Titan FC banner earlier this year. The pair were spotted together just a week ago on Berdon’s Instagram. However, TMZ had previously noted the matter is a domestic violence investigation, indicating Berdon is likely the suspect in question.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqGUL86Bq2E/

Ostovich had been announced as facing Paige VanZant at UFC Brooklyn in January, the first show of 2019 for the promotion.

Update, November 20 9:30AM EST: Berdon’s Instagram account is no longer available. Ostovich’s management, Sucker Punch Entertainment, has released a statement on the matter.

“A very unfortunate incident occurred Sunday night with Rachael Ostovich that ended with her suffering a fractured orbital and other injuries. As a result of these injuries she will not be able to compete in her upcoming bout with Paige VanZant on January 19th. Rachael is now home from the hospital with her family and will be going back for further check ups on her orbital. The family would like to ask for some privacy as they sort through this matter. We would like to thank the UFC for all their support on this matter as well as the fans and media for your concern.”

Update, November 21 7:00 EST: Arnold Berdon has been arrested on second degree murder charges, as first reported by TMZ. Honolulu PD did not respond to an additional request for comment at this time. Ostovich, meanwhile, requested and was granted a restraining order from her husband.

TMZ cited Ostovich’s testimony from documents pertaining to the court order, including her statement regarding her injuries. “After a night out with family, [Arnold Berdon] punched me repeatedly on the head, face, ribs, making me fall to the ground.”

“I gasped for breath and escaped thru [sic] balcony. I coughed up blood, threw up sev. times. Cracked orbital.”

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Disturbing news emerged late Sunday, as TMZ reported that UFC flyweight Rachael Ostovich has been hospitalized after an attack in Hawaii. According to the report, 27-year old Ostovich suffered “major injuries” including a possible broken orbital bone in what appears to have been an assault by “someone close” to the fighter.

No other details were available on Sunday. Ostovich, who was recently booked against Paige VanZant for UFC Brooklyn in January, was in Honolulu, Hawaii at the time of the incident. The Ultimate Fighter veteran was born in and fights out of the island state.

Ostovich (4-4) has made two appearances in the UFC to date, earning a win over Karine Gevorgyan at the TUF 26 Finale. She dropped her second fight to Montana De La Rosa at the TUF 27 Finale, but her pairing with VanZant was expected to raise her profile. That bout will now almost certainly have to be put on the back burner, though that is clearly not what matters most in this instance. Prior to her stint with the UFC, Ostovich competed under the Invicta FC banner.

Update, 5:00 PM EST – Honolulu PD have yet to respond to a request for comment regarding the incident.

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Newsday’s Mark La Monica reported the first additions to UFC Brooklyn.

Paige VanZant has been a favorite of the UFC since joining in 2014. Following her Fight of the Night debut, PVZ has been featured on the main card (three on FOX) in all six of her fights, including two main events. With that being said, it is fitting that she is a member of the first fight announced for the ESPN era.

In the Octagon, however, VanZant has struggled recently. She fell in a main event bout to Michelle Waterson in December 2016, then suffered a multitude of injuries that kept her out of action until January of this year. In that fight, which was her flyweight debut, VanZant lost a decision to Jessica Rose-Clark, breaking her arm in the process.

VanZant will face Ultimate Fighter and Invicta FC veteran Rachael Ostovich. Ostovich has alternated wins and losses in her last eight fights, including her TUF stint. On the reality show, she defeated Melinda Fabian by armbar before falling to longtime veteran Barb Honchak. Ostovich went on to make a statement in her promotional debut, winning by first-round armbar. She was unable to string together a win streak, falling to Montana De La Rosa by submission in her last appearance.

Newsday also reported a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Belal Muhammad has been added to UFC Brooklyn. Neal has been stellar since winning by first-round KO in the Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series, submitting Brian Camozzi in the first round, then scoring an incredible head kick knockout against Frank Camacho in September. Muhammad comes in on a four-fight win streak with a 5-2 record in the Octagon.

The first UFC event of the ESPN era will take place on January 19 inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The two fights above are the only ones linked to the card thus far.

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In a new flyweight division, one win can put you not far out of a title shot. For Rachael Ostovich and Montana De La Rosa, a bout at the TUF 27 Finale allowed them a chance to get themselves into the rankings and into title contention. The bout went down on the televised prelims of the Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale, and in the end Montana De La Rosa might’ve just made her case to break into the rankings.

In round one, Ostovich struggled with getting in on De La Rosa. Anytime she attempted to move in she’d be tagged by De La Rosa, who was the far taller fighter with longer reach. Ostovich also struggled with putting pressure on her, as De La Rosa just held her ground in the center of the octagon for the majority of round one.

In round two Ostovich looked to land some inside leg kicks and also looked to land the big overhand right, but couldn’t get it to connect. Ostovich threw a kick that was caught by De La Rosa who attempted to bring her to the ground. She couldn’t get her down, and instead put her up against the fence before circling off. Ostovich started to land on the feet which lead to De Le Rosa trying to bring the fight to the ground.

Round three featured both fighters attempting to find a finish, with Ostovich rolling for an armbar. She was unable to complete the submission, and a transition saw De La Rosa land on top. As De La Rosa landed on top she moved into mount and went to the back. There she began landing some ground and pound. De La Rosa eventually locked up a rear-naked choke, and that was all she wrote.

She sinks it in and gets the tap!

2-0 inside the Octagon for @MontanaMarie211! #TUF27 pic.twitter.com/ZdYFNTjzRo

— UFC (@ufc) July 7, 2018

Montana de la Rosa def. Rachel Ostovich by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 3, 4:21

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Hosted at the Park Theatre in Las Vegas, the Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale featured the bulk of the show’s talents filling out the card. Among them, Invicta FC veteran Rachel Ostovich-Berdon, who took on Armenian Karine Gevorgyan in prelim action. With both women having fewer than ten fights to their name, this was a chance to make an impression on a big scale. Ostovich-Berdon, with a number of fights under the Invicta banner, arguably had faced stiffer competition thus far in her career; otherwise, this was a fairly even match on paper.

Gevorgyan, however, missed weight for the fight, and the bout was contested at a catchweight of 130lbs.

Ostovich opened with a pair of leg kicks, while Gevorgyan looked to counter. Gevorgyan was then taken down, as Ostovich opted to change levels. Gevorgyan looked to lock in an arm-bar, but the Hawaiian escaped. Gevorgyan, however, would make it back up, and look for a takedown of her own. That backfired as Ostovich was able to take the back, but she was high. She was, however, able to lock in an arm-bar. Gevorgyan was in trouble, and moments later, she was forced to tap!

Rachel Ostovich def. Karine Gevorgyan by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 1:40

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