NEW YORK – The past year hasn’t been easy for Paige VanZant in terms of her fighting career. She had multiple surgeries to repair a broken arm but is finally healthy and prepared to return Saturday night.

VanZant (7-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) meets Rachael Ostovich (4-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in a women’s flyweight bout at UFC on ESPN+ 1. VanZant has dealt with layoffs of more than a year before, but this was the first one caused by injury. Although VanZant was able to accomplish some positive things from a personal perspective – such as getting married – the time off still hasn’t been easy.

“This was by far the most challenging, especially because I was forced to not train,” VanZant told MMAjunkie Thursday at media day. “During all those opportunities, I was on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ living out an amazing dream. I was still able to train and being athletic and do everything 100 percent. I had to just sit at home (this time), which was awful. Everyone else is like, ‘Dream vacation.’ I couldn’t do anything. I was able to go to the gym and watch, but it was hard to be able to say, ’Don’t do anything.’”

UFC on ESPN+ 1 takes place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. VanZant vs. Ostovich is part of the main card, which streams on ESPN+ following televised prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

VanZant admits there were some serious low moments over the past 12 months. The most difficult happened when she learned that, after months of recovery, she needed a second surgery to repair the damage to her arm. All the trials and tribulations have made VanZant stronger, though, she said, because it forced her to address some potential weaknesses.

“I’ve been working with a mental coach, with an athletic coach to try to get the mental side stronger,” VanZant said. “It’s hard to come back from such a significant injury and significant layoff. That’s one thing I think is going to be a huge addition to my coach.

“Going into every fight I have those doubts and those questions and those fears, but I feel, for this one, it feels right. Everything feels right, and it’s falling into place perfectly. This is my moment to show I really belong right here, right now.”

For VanZant, the matchup with Ostovich represents an opportunity to get back on track. She hasn’t won a fight since August 2016 and is coming off back-to-back losses, the most recent of which marked her UFC debut at 125 pounds.

VanZant said she’s feeling the effects of being out of competition for so long, particularly when it comes to the weight cut.

“I cannot believe that I ever used to make 115, especially cause I’m walking around, and I don’t see myself as being much smaller than anybody in the 125 division,” VanZant said. “My coaches and my husband, I’ve never cut to 115 with this camp, and they were like, ‘There’s no way.’ I can’t believe I used to do 115.’

“I’m getting so hungry, and I don’t know why they do these media days on Thursday, the hardest weight cut day. I feel like I’m really cranky, and I’m snapping at some people. I’m not trying to. But I feel good. It’s typical. This is the way I feel every weight cut, and cutting any amount of weight is miserable. But I’m looking forward to getting through it and performing on Saturday.”

VanZant called the matchup with Ostovich a “real test” after her injury layoff. She believes it’s an advantageous pairing to help her get back on track and put her in position to make a run toward the top of the weight class.

“Winning this fight, I will have my first win in this division,” VanZant said. “I’ve got to continue to climb up the rankings. I would love to fight somebody in the top 15, continue to fight someone ranked and move my way up.”

For more on UFC on ESPN+ 1, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.