UFC's Rachael Ostovich Breaks Silence On Alleged Attack, Decision To Fight: 'I Have To Do This'

Rachael Ostovich vows not to give up her goal of fighting in the UFC.

Ostovich (4-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC), a member of the women’s flyweight division, spoke publicly for the first time since an alleged assault by her MMA fighter husband, explaining why she decided not to withdraw from a bout with Paige VanZant (7-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) at UFC on ESPN+ 1.

“Although this is a very difficult time for me and my family, I felt like this fight in January was important,” Ostovich told Khon2 in Hawaii. “I felt that it was extremely important to me to follow through with it. Not only for me, but first for my daughter and other people that might be going through similar situations.

“I want to take a stand against domestic violence and show others that it’s OK to come out and speak about it and not be quieted. I feel like I have to do this. This is something that can’t be taken away from me.”

Ostovich, 27, suffered a fractured orbital when her husband Arnold Berdon allegedly attacked her in the early morning hours of Nov. 18. In a petition for a restraining order, she told a judgethat Berdon repeatedly punched her in the head and ribs, causing her to fall to the ground. She escaped via a balcony and spit up blood after the attack.

Berdon, 27, turned himself into police on Nov. 20. Initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, he was later charged with second-degree assault and released on $75,000.

On Monday, he made his first court appearance and is due back in court on Dec. 18, when a judge will decide whether there’s probable cause to assign the case to Honolulu Circuit Court for an arraignment, where he will register a formal plea. He is facing up to five years in jail.

Ostovich’s manager initially announced her withdrawal from the event as she dealt with the fallout from the alleged incident. But on Tuesday, the manager, Brian Butler-Au told MMAjunkie that Ostovich sought a second opinion on her injuries to see if she could be cleared to fight.

Although Ostovich does have a fractured orbital, Butler-Au said she will be healed in time to face VanZant on Jan. 19 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

“She never wanted to give up the fight,” he said.

In her first interview about the alleged assault, Ostovich said she plans to use the UFC’s platform to make a statement about domestic violence.

“Don’t let anyone or anything come between you and your dreams and your career,” she said