Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship ring was in the Florida State Fairgrounds on Friday in Tampa for BKFC 19 headlined by a rematch between Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich.
The two first fought in mixed martial arts at UFC on ESPN+ 1 in January 2019 where VanZant defeated Ostovich by submission. On Friday, Ostovich avenged the previously loss in boxing defeating VanZant by unanimous decision.
VanZant displayed fast hands with her jab and combinations, but Ostovich stood in the pocket with “12 Gauge” and connected with power punches.
Ostovich’s right hand found a home consistently all fight. In the third round, Ostovich delivered several clean right hands and she shocked VanZant in the fourth.
When the judges rendered their scorecards, which read 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in favor of Ostovich, VanZant walked out of the ring upset by the decision.
“It’s been a long time. Two and a half years since the last time we’ve been in the cage. A completely different sport but I still fought Paige VanZant. Give her a freaking hand, a round of applause, show some respect,” Ostovich said following the win.
Paige VanZant made her Bare Knuckle Boxing debut earlier this year, but wound up suffering a unanimous decision loss to Britain Hart.