Tag: Paige VanZant

Ex-UFC Flyweight Rachael Ostovich Signs With The BKFC, Rematch With Paige VanZant In The Works

OstovichFormer UFC flyweight grappler, Rachael Ostovich has signed a deal to join up with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) following her December release from the UFC, amid a three-fight losing skid. Posting on their official Instagram account tonight, BKFC confirmed the signature of Ostovich, as she plans to compete at the flyweight limit. The David Feldman-led […]

Ostovich

Former UFC flyweight grappler, Rachael Ostovich has signed a deal to join up with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) following her December release from the UFC, amid a three-fight losing skid.

Posting on their official Instagram account tonight, BKFC confirmed the signature of Ostovich, as she plans to compete at the flyweight limit. The David Feldman-led promotion also recently penned former UFC feature and one-time vacant Invicta FC flyweight title challenger, Peal Gonzalez to a deal.

“SIGNED!! Welcome to BKFC @rachaelostovich,” the statement posted by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship read, accompanied by a promotional image of Ostovich.

A contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 26 back in October of 2017, Ostovich exited at the quarter final stage against Barb Honchak, suffering a unanimous decision loss following a preliminary round win over Melinda Fabian via a first-round rear-naked choke. 

Competing under the Invicta FC banner from 2014 to 2017, Ostovich went 2-2 under the Shannon Knapp-led promotion’s scrutiny, dropping a pair of losses to both UFC flyweight contender, Andrea Lee, as well as Christine Ferea. In her two wins, the Hawaiian managed triumphs over both Evva Johnson and Ariel Black via split decision in both.

Offered a return at The Ultimate Fighter 26 finale, Ostovich battled with Karine Gevorgyan, scoring her sole win under the UFC’s banner via an opening round armbar in a 130-pound catchweight bout after the latter tipped the flyweight scales.

Suffering a pair of submissions and a knockout loss in her most recent three professional outings, the 30-year-old was stopped by both Montana De La Rosa and Paige VanZant via a rear-naked choke and armbar, respectively. 

In her final Octagon appearance, Ostovich featured at UFC Vegas 15 in November last, suffering a third round body knee knockout defeat to Gina Mazany — spelling an end to her time in the promotion, as she was granted her release back in December. 

The matchup against Mazany marked Ostovich’s return from an eight-month USADA suspension in relation to a January 3rd. last failed drug test in which she provided a test sample that tested positive for the banned substances, Ostarine and GW515. The two substances which were flagged were found in one of Ostovich’s supplements, however, they were not listed on the ingredients label.  

Ostovich is set to compete at the flyweight limit under the BKFC banner, joining both the above-mentioned UFC alums, Gonzalez and VanZant in the division. 

As for her promotional bow, according to a report from MMA Fighting, a debut outing is in the works for this summer, possibly June or July, in a rematch against past-foe, VanZant. 

VanZant made her promotional debut at BKFC KnuckleMania back in February of this year in Miami, Florida — dropping a unanimous decision defeat to Britain Hart. 

Paige VanZant Says She Has ‘Fight News Coming’ Soon

Paige VanZant will be returning very soon. VanZant made her BKFC debut in early February where she lost a decision to Britain Hart. After the loss, many wondered if VanZant would fight in BKFC again, but president David Feldman confirmed she would. Now…

Paige VanZant will be returning very soon. VanZant made her BKFC debut in early February where she lost a decision to Britain Hart. After the loss, many wondered if VanZant would fight in BKFC again, but president David Feldman confirmed she would. Now, not even a month after her last fight, VanZant has taken to […]

BKFC President Praises Paige VanZant, Says She Will Face A ‘Well-Known Name’ Next Time Out

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship president, David Feldman has nothing but praise for Paige VanZant. Earlier this month, VanZant made her BKFC debut and suffered a decision loss to Britain Hart. Although the result was disappointing, Feldman was impre…

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship president, David Feldman has nothing but praise for Paige VanZant. Earlier this month, VanZant made her BKFC debut and suffered a decision loss to Britain Hart. Although the result was disappointing, Feldman was impressed with her performance and confirms “12 Gauge” will fight again. “I can confidently say Paige VanZant absolutely […]

Paige VanZant Will Fight A ‘Well Known Name’ In BKFC This Summer

Paige VanZantBare Knuckle Fighting Championship president, Dave Feldman, is close to finalizing another fight for Paige VanZant just weeks on from her unsuccessful debut against Britain Hart. The former UFC fighter started slowly against Hart but rallied late to make the fight fairly close on the judge’s scorecards. Ultimately, VanZant dropped to a decision defeat. Despite […]

Paige VanZant

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship president, Dave Feldman, is close to finalizing another fight for Paige VanZant just weeks on from her unsuccessful debut against Britain Hart.

The former UFC fighter started slowly against Hart but rallied late to make the fight fairly close on the judge’s scorecards.

Ultimately, VanZant dropped to a decision defeat. Despite that Feldman was impressed with her performance and the pay-per-view numbers she brought in.

“The main event, we invested a lot into Paige VanZant and she showed up and fought really, really well,” Feldman told MMA Fighting. “I think that we can build upon that.

“[The pay-per-view] did good for us. It’s going to hit six figures. I don’t know where that’s going to end up but that’s a pretty good number for us right now for where we are. That’s a good number. It was a good event for us. It was profitable. Everything went very, very well for us. So all around it was just a very, very good ending for us.”

VanZant’s future in the sport appeared to be unclear after the defeat but Feldman is 100 percent confident she will fight again for BKFC later this year.

“I can confidently say Paige VanZant absolutely will be back with us here in early to mid-summer,” Feldman revealed. “100 percent. We are 100 percent in the Paige VanZant business. We like being in that business. She delivered for us on every aspect we needed and finished the fight strong so that was very important for us. Had she started the fight fast and not finished strong and went a whole different direction, it could be a different conversation but she finished strong and showed the heart she had and that she could adapt to this sport and she did. We’re happy of the performance.

Next up, VanZant will face a “well known” opponent according to the BKFC boss.

“Pretty sure we have the opponent,” Feldman teased. “We’re just dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s on this one. It’s another well-known name and I think the public is really going to get behind this one. I think it’s going to be a really competitive fight.”

Who do you want to see Paige VanZant fight next?

Paige VanZant Says BKFC Debut Was ‘Big Learning Process’, Eyes April Return

Paige VanZantPaige VanZant lost her Bare Knuckle Fightinng Championship debut last weekend. VanZant engaged in a five-round battle with opponent Britain Hart last Friday but ultimately lost a unanimous decision. As the fight played out, VanZant was playing defense more than offense as she looked to avoid Hart’s relentless attack. The past week has been one […]

Paige VanZant

Paige VanZant lost her Bare Knuckle Fightinng Championship debut last weekend.

VanZant engaged in a five-round battle with opponent Britain Hart last Friday but ultimately lost a unanimous decision.

As the fight played out, VanZant was playing defense more than offense as she looked to avoid Hart’s relentless attack.

The past week has been one of reflection for the former UFC star, as VanZant explained that there was quite a learning curve for her in the ring last weekend.

“For me, honestly, there’s a few things I’m going to take away from it and go back to my gym and adjust and learn,” VanZant said on her Sirius XM show Knuckle Up Radio. “It was a really big learning process throughout the fight. As the rounds went, I feel I was kind of finding my rhythm and finding my groove and kind of understanding what was working, what wasn’t. Stepping into an entirely different sport really and not being able to fully train this sport unless you fight. You can’t really box bare-knuckle in the gym. It was an adjustment period.

“It sucks. It’s unfortunate. I’m not happy that I lost ever, it’s the biggest letdown in the world but I know it’s not going to shake me. It’s not going to define me. I know with my performance what I did wrong and I can go back and learn and get better and what an inspiration I hope to other people who are questioning if they belong in something or trying something new and have that question like ‘what if I fail?’ Yeah, what if you fail? It’s fine. It’s not a big deal. Failure happens everyday. It happens to some athletes on the biggest stages with the biggest audience and guess what? You go home to your family and you start over.”

“Definitely going into round five, I’ve definitely seen all the comments like ‘that was actually Paige fighting.’ That’s how I normally fight, especially when I was fighting for the UFC,” VanZant said. “It was a learning process. Every punch, it does feel different to get hit with a bare-knuckle versus a glove. It definitely didn’t hurt worse because I’ve been kicked and kneed in the face so it was more like worrisome, especially since there was no big screen I could look up at. Some of the punches I was like ‘crap, that cut me open.’ You can see me cuss like ‘F word’ because I thought one of the punches cut me open and I was so hesitant in the moment that I was getting cut open with these shots.

“Then of course going into the fifth round, it didn’t matter if I was cut open or not. I was going to go for broke and try to win and finish the fight. It was a big learning process.”

In the post fight Hart complimented VanZant while adding that she’s never been hit harder in her entire life. VanZant attributed a lot of props to Hart’s toughness, durability and the composure she showed during the fight while hoping that they will eventually meet again one day.

“I think me and her will cross paths again and I want that to be hopefully for a title. I think that fight should happen later in my career. I need to go get a few more wins and earn my shot against her again.”

VanZant has been adamant that joining BKFC was solely her decision and despite a loss in her debut, it’s only fueling her to come back that much better the next time.

“Losing sucks and it’s embarrassing and defeating but it’s a part of the process,” VanZant said. “If I quit right now, that would make me a loser but if I press on and keep training and pick myself up, that’s my inspiration story.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

While this loss is a tough one to swallow for VanZant, it certainly seems like she will be back in the BKFC ring sooner rather than later.

How did you think Paige VanZant looked in the ring in her BKFC debut? How do you see her doing in the future?

Paige VanZant Breaks Silence On BKFC Loss

Paige VanZantBare Knuckle event, KnuckleMania was something wild to say the least. It featured UFC star, Paige VanZant, the biggest athlete to ever grace the ring in the history of Bare Knuckle Boxing (according to the ring announcer) in the pay-per-view main event. Despite the big entrance to a new sport, not everything went to plan […]

Paige VanZant

Bare Knuckle event, KnuckleMania was something wild to say the least. It featured UFC star, Paige VanZant, the biggest athlete to ever grace the ring in the history of Bare Knuckle Boxing (according to the ring announcer) in the pay-per-view main event.

Despite the big entrance to a new sport, not everything went to plan for the young fighter.

VanZant’s last UFC fight came against Amanda Ribas, where she endured a quick first-round submission loss at UFC 251. This happened to be the last fight of her current UFC contract and to many people’s surprise, she would test out the wonders of free agency.

After big-money offers from multiple organizations, VanZant decided to leave the sport of MMA to pursue a six-figure contract with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. To start off her chapter, she was called out by former pro boxer Britain Hart ringside. The two would be scheduled to fight this Super Bowl weekend on “KnuckleMania.”

In a five-round slugfest, VanZant would go on to lose a controversial unanimous decision to Hart. After a slow start for VanZant in the earlier instances of the fight, “12 Gauge” would turn off the safety to fight her strongest in the latter half of round 4 and ignited in the fifth and final round with a series of shots to Hart.

Despite the comeback, the 3 ringside judges would all score this competitive fight 49-46, in favor of Hart.

VanZant isn’t new to losses in the fight game and took a very humble approach to this defeat on social media.

“The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear our defeat without losing heart.” said VanZant. “Last night I told my husband I didn’t want to fight any more. But as soon as the words left my lips I knew that wasn’t true. I’m a fighter. This is what I live for.”

“Losers quit when they fail, winners fail until they succeed. That fight last night was a good learning experience for me. The timing and distance took a little bit to figure out. But I felt my last round was my best round and I’m going to build off of that! I’m thankful to fight for the best team in the world and we are going to go back and fix our mistakes.”

“Thank you to Britain for competing last night and congrats on [the] victory! I’m also confident we will cross paths again.”

While unsuccessful in her first time fighting professionally fighting without the comfort of a 4-ounce glove, VanZant is confident that she will do it again inside the BKFC promotion.

“I’m not going anywhere, boss.” VanZant stated to BKFC president, David Feldman, on Instagram.

Who do you think Paige VanZant fight next?