When the announcement was made that Rachael Ostovich and Greg Hardy would fight on the same card, domestic abuse survivors and various other resources criticized the UFC for their tone-deafness given their past histories as a survivor and alleged abuser respectively.
UFC Dana White has defended the action saying Greg Hardy deserves his chance at redemption after the 2014 incident where he was found guilty of assaulting an ex-girlfriend but later had charges dropped after she failed to appear in court for the appeal. Ostovich, who was allegedly assaulted by her husband Arnold Berdon in November, says in a new interview with Ariel Helwani on Monday that she sought Hardy out to have a conversation because the two would run into each other eventually.
”Nobody’s story is the same, nobody’s situation is the same, I have nothing to do with Greg Hardy. I’m just grateful to be fighting again.”
”I believe in second chances. I’m glad he’s making a turnaround. I hope the same can happen to my husband and anyone else who has made a wrong choice.”
Ostovich faces Paige VanZant Saturday night in Brooklyn on the UFC Fight Night card headlined by TJ Dillashaw vs Henry Cejudo. To see Ostovich’s full interview, plus BSO’s sit down lunch with TJ Dillashaw, flip the pages.
