Paige VanZant got a much-needed victory on Saturday night when she defeated Rachael Ostovich at UFC Fight Night 143 in Brooklyn.
It was VanZant's first fight in the UFC Octagon since her flyweight debut loss to Jessica-Rose Clarke in January 2018. A broken arm suffered in that loss forced her away from competition for a year, but on Saturday she returned in emphatic fashion.
Admittedly, VanZant appeared a little overwhelmed to start the match and the shakiness continued into the second round. About midway through the round, VanZant got Ostovich's back and rained down a flurry of punches. It set her up for a second-round submission finish with an armbar.
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Ostovich remained on the ground in apparent pain following the tap.
“I heard the arm pop, I came back and I know she’ll come back strong too," said Paige VanZant following the fight.
With the win, VanZant improved to 8-4 with her fifth career stoppage win. She also ended a two-fight losing streak; it was just her second win in five matches. Ostovich, meanwhile, dropped to 4-5 on her career with a 1-2 record in the UFC.