Popular women’s flyweight fighter Rachael Ostovich is the latest victim of UFC’s planned cuts, the promotion confirmed Monday.
UFC president Dana White said Saturday following UFC Fight Night that they would be making “serious cuts” — about 60 fighters would be released before the first of the year. The UFC released perennial middleweight contender Yoel Romero — who ESPN has ranked No. 4 in the world at 185 pounds — last week.
Ostovich (4-6) had dropped three straight. The Hawaii resident fell to Gina Mazany via third-round TKO at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Clark, on Nov. 23.
Ostovich, 29, debuted in the UFC off The Ultimate Fighter 26, the season of the reality show that crowned the promotion’s first flyweight champion in 2017. Ostovich beat fellow castmate Karine Gevorgyan via first-round armbar in her UFC debut fight.
“Our roster is very inflated right now,” White said Saturday about the impending releases. “We’re gonna have some big cuts coming before the end of the year. You’re gonna see a lot of names going here in the next couple of weeks.”