Italian MMA fighter Ottavia Busia-Bourdain commemorates her ex-husband Anthony Bourdain through her Instagram posts. Though separated, she wasn't legally divorced from Bourdain at the time of his death on June 8, 2018.

Ottavia's Journey From Italy To The U.S. 

Ottavia never dreamt of being famous, nor did she have aspirations for a life in the limelight during her early age.

Born on 11 July 1978 as Ottavia Busia, she grew up in the Sardinia Isles of Italy. As with any fishing village inhabitants, she imagined a normal life and studied to become a dentist.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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However, as fate would have it, the 42-years-old relocated to the U.S. in 2000 following an Irish rock band. She started to work in various restaurants to find financial stability.

She eventually landed a job at a Japanese restaurant, Geisha, and became its general manager.

Married Anthony Bourdain in 2007

Ottavia met Anthony Bourdain in 2006.Their mutual friend, Eric Ripert, set them up.

After a brief friendship, they started dating and welcomed a daughter, Ariane Bourdain, on April 9, 2007.

More than a week after their daughter's birth, the celebrity chef and the MMA fighter tied the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony on April 20, 2007.

The marriage was the first for Ottavia and the second for Anthony Bourdain. Before Ottavia, Anthony had married Nancy Putkoski in 1985; they separated after 20 years of marriage in 2005. 

After Ariane’s birth, Ottavia pursued a career in Mixed Martial Arts and took up Jiu-Jitsu.

As for Bourdain, Ariane had a much significant impact. She helped him overcome his troubles with alcohol and substance abuse.

However, things went downhill for Bourdain and Ottavia.

Their marriage couldn't survive with Anthony being away from home for over 250 days a year for his professional commitments. Therefore, the pair eventually agreed to get a divorce on amicable terms in 2016. 

Ex-Husband Dies by Suicide

Both Ottavia and her ex-husband moved on from the separation on friendly terms.

After the split, Ottavia focused on her pursuit of martial arts; she became a part of an MMA roster. Moreover, she earned a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Renzo Gracie’s New York Academy.

On the other hand, her ex-husband started dating Italian actress Asia Argento.

Everything seemed to be going well, but news of Anthony's suicide hit the media on June 8, 2018. The chef was found hanging by a bath towel in the Alsace region of France, where he was shooting for his food and travel show, No Reservations.

Ottavia and Anthony, though separated, hadn't finalized their divorce legally. So, after his death, she was listed as his estate's executor while their daughter got entitled to his net worth, estimated to be $1.21 million.

Pays Tribute To Ex-Husband Through Instagram

Ottavia did not comment at the time of her ex-husband's death. Nevertheless, she finally broke her silence via a touching Instagram post three days later— on 11 June 2018. 

The post featured her daughter, Ariane, in front and center with her band as she dedicated their songs to her father's memory. Ottavia left a heart-warming message on the caption by focusing on how her daughter paid tribute to her father,

Our little girl had her concert today. She was amazing. SO strong and brave. She wore the boots you bought her. I hope you are having a good trip. Wherever you are.

Ottavia's daughter dedicates her performance to her late father, Anthony Bourdain (Photo: Ottavia's Instagram | 11 June 2018)

She posted another throwback video of "Gone Bamboo" author with their daughter on his birthday on June 25, 2019. The footage showed Bourdain swimming while carrying a young Ariane over his shoulders.