UFC Fight Night 143: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw - Predictions and Picks

#5 Paige VanZant vs. Rachael Ostovich

Paige VanZant is looking for her first win in over a year

In a Flyweight battle, the ever-popular VanZant returns to face TUF veteran Ostovich, who found herself in the news for all the wrong reasons recently as a victim of domestic violence.

VanZant hasn’t fought for almost a year now following her upset loss to Jessica-Rose Clark last January in her Flyweight debut, and if she can’t win this one then her whole future as a potential contender is likely in doubt. The UFC won’t cut her – she’s too marketable for that – but there’s no way she’ll get close to a UFC title if she loses here.

Thankfully for her, Ostovich is a big step down in competition, no offense intended. Largely a grappler with a judo base, Ostovich isn’t a bad fighter by any means, but she just isn’t the best athlete in the division and that’s shone through in her losses to Andrea Lee, Christine Ferea and in the UFC, Montana de la Rosa. She does have a strong submission game, but it’s doubtful she’d be able to out-grapple PVZ – assuming Paige is back on the form she showed in 2014/15.

My personal hunch is that with all of the hype outside the cage – the modelling opportunities, appearances on Dancing With The Stars, VanZant probably took her eye off the ball somewhat. Remember, this is a woman who comfortably out-grappled both Felice Herrig and Alex Chambers – she shouldn’t have been out-grappled by Clark in the way she was.

VanZant’s coaching team might be a worry – she hasn’t looked as good since she left Team Alpha Male in 2016 – but I don’t think Ostovich is the fighter to expose her weaknesses as Clark – and Rose Namajunas and Michelle Waterson – did. Hopefully this is the return of the ultra-aggressive, pace-pushing PVZ from 2014, as she was super-fun to watch.

The Pick: VanZant via second round TKO