Tabatha Ricci

Last updated
Tabatha Ricci
BornTabatha Ricci Fabri Salto
(1995-02-21) February 21, 1995 (age 29)
Birigui, São Paulo, Brazil
Other namesBaby Shark
Height5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)
Weight115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)
Division Strawweight
Reach61 in (155 cm) [1]
Fighting out of Ventura, California, U.S.
TeamParagon BJJ (2017–present) [2] [3]
Knuckleheadz Boxing [2] [3]
Kings MMA (formerly) [3]
Black House [3]
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo Miller [4]
Black belt in Judo under Michihiro Omigawa [5]
Years active2013–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total14
Wins11
By knockout1
By submission3
By decision7
Losses3
By knockout1
By decision2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Tabatha Ricci Fabri Salto [6] (born February 21, 1995) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, currently competing in the women's Strawweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of October 8, 2024, she is #10 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings. [7]

Contents

Background

Ricci was born and raised in Birigui, Brazil. [2] She has an older sister. [8] Following her father's footsteps, Ricci started training Judo at the age of six and took up Muay Thai at the age of 15. [8] [3] She started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 17, at 18 started to train Boxing and had her first professional bout. [8] [3]

She moved to Japan in 2017 for a year to compete in SEIZA competitions, before moving to America to focus on mixed martial arts. [9] [10]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Right after turning eighteen, Ricci made her professional mixed martial arts debut. [8] Having difficulties in finding bouts after winning her first two bouts, Ricci eventually moved to Japan in 2017 to train various disciplines and compete in custom rules bouts. [8] [3] In late 2017 she moved to California in order to focus in her Brazilian jiu-jitsu. [8] In 2020 she signed a three-fight contract with Legacy Fighting Alliance [11] where she ultimately won all of her bouts, defeating Kelsey Arnesen at LFA 90 by the way of unanimous decision, [12] Vanessa Marie Grimes via first round armbar at LFA 98 [13] [14] and finally Shawna Ormsby at LFA 105 via TKO stoppage in the second round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Replacing withdrawn Maryna Moroz, Ricci made her promotional debut on 4 days notice against Manon Fiorot on June 5, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai. [15] Ricci lost the bout via standing TKO in the second round. [16]

Following her debut returned back to strawweight division and made her sophomore appearance in the organization against Maria Oliveira at UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori on October 23, 2021. She won the fight via unanimous decision. [17]

Ricci faced Polyana Viana on May 21, 2022 at UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira. [18] She won the fight via unanimous decision. [19]

Ricci was scheduled to face Cheyanne Vlismas on October 1, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 211. [20] Vlismas pulled out in late August for personal reasons and was replaced by former UFC Women's Strawweight Championship challenger and inaugural Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Jessica Penne, [21] however the fight was cancelled due to an illness with Penne on the day of the weigh in's. [22]

Ricci faced Jessica Penne on March 4, 2023, at UFC 285. [23] She won the fight via an armbar in the second round. [24]

Ricci faced Gillian Robertson on June 24, 2023 at UFC on ABC 5. [25] She won the bout via unanimous decision. [26]

Ricci faced Loopy Godinez on November 11, 2023, at UFC 295. [27] She lost the close bout via split decision. [28]

Ricci faced Tecia Pennington on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56. [29] She won the fight by split decision. [30]

Ricci faced former Invicta Fighting Strawweight Champion Angela Hill on August 24, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 62. [31] She won the fight by unanimous decision. [32]

Ricci faced Yan Xiaonan on November 23, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 248. [33] She lost the fight by unanimous decision. [34]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
14 matches11 wins3 losses
By knockout11
By submission30
By decision72
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss11–3 Yan Xiaonan Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Figueiredo November 23, 202435:00 Macau, SAR, China
Win11–2 Angela Hill Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Borralho August 24, 202435:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win10–2 Tecia Pennington Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento May 11, 202435:00 St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Loss9–2 Loopy Godinez Decision (split) UFC 295 November 11, 202335:00 New York City, New York, United States
Win9–1 Gillian Robertson Decision (unanimous) UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria June 24, 202335:00 Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Win8–1 Jessica Penne Submission (armbar) UFC 285 March 4, 202322:14 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win7–1 Polyana Viana Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira May 21, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win6–1Maria OliveiraDecision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori October 23, 202135:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesReturn to Strawweight.
Loss5–1 Manon Fiorot TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai June 5, 202123:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFlyweight debut.
Win5–0Shawna OrmsbyTKO (punches) LFA 105 April 23, 202124:50 Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States
Win4–0Vanessa Marie GrimesSubmission (armbar) LFA 98 January 29, 202111:07 Park City, Kansas, United States
Win3–0Kelsey ArnesenDecision (unanimous) LFA 90 September 4, 202035:00 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Win2–0Graziele RicottaDecision (unanimous)Brazilian Fighting Championship 4October 4, 201435:00 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Win1–0Danielle CunhaSubmission (armbar)Fight Masters Combat 1December 7, 201312:30 São Paulo, BrazilStrawweight debut.

[35]

See also

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References

  1. "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "ABOUT | Tabatha Ricci". tabatharicci.com. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Desi Flores (November 20, 2020). Tabatha Ricci talks about MMA, Judo & Seiza via YouTube.
  4. Tabatha Ricci [@tabatha.ricci] (February 5, 2021). "A New chapter has began. Black belt season is on ! It has been a long journey and a lot of work put in. I am so grateful for everything I've learned and all the amazing people I met through all of it ! I want to thank my mentor @paragonbjj for all the knowledge and for always pushing me to get the best out of me" via Instagram.
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  6. "Tabatha Ricci ("Baby Shark") | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
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