In a high-stakes clash between two ranked Brazilian strawweights, Tabatha “Baby Shark” Ricci delivered a career-defining performance by finishing Amanda Ribas via TKO in Round 2 at UFC on ABC 9: Whittaker vs. De Ridder, held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Tale of the Tape
| Attribute | Amanda Ribas | Tabatha Ricci |
| Age | 31 | 30 |
| Height | 5′4″ | 5′1″ |
| Reach | 66″ | 61″ |
| Record (MMA) | 12-7-0 | 12-3-0 |
| UFC Record | 7-6 | 7-3 |
| Style | Kickboxing/BJJ | Judo/Wrestling |
| UFC Ranking (Pre-fight) | #7 | #10 |
Fight Breakdown
Round 1: Both fighters exchanged quick punches and clinch work. Ribas landed a few clean strikes and attempted trips, while Ricci pressured with takedown feints and clinch control.
Round 2: Ricci turned up the aggression, landing a vicious elbow in the clinch that visibly damaged Ribas. She followed up with a takedown and a flurry of ground-and-pound, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 2:59 of Round 2.
Ricci’s finish marked her first UFC win by strikes, showcasing her evolution from a grappling-heavy fighter to a well-rounded threat.
Performance Highlights
| Fighter | Significant Strikes | Knockdowns | Takedowns | Control Time |
| Ricci | 48 | 1 | 2 | 2:15 |
| Ribas | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0:45 |
Ricci’s clinch elbow was the turning point, landing flush and swelling Ribas’ eye.
Ribas showed toughness but was overwhelmed by Ricci’s pressure and precision.
What’s Next?
Tabatha Ricci: With this win, Ricci re-enters the top-10 conversation and could be matched against a top-5 contender like Marina Rodriguez or Virna Jandiroba.
Amanda Ribas: Now on a three-fight losing streak, Ribas may need to regroup, possibly outside the top-10, or consider a move back to flyweight.
FIGHT ODDS
Amanda Ribas + 145
Tabatha Ricci – 180
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, July 25, 2025
