Tabatha Ricci

Brazilian mixed martial artist

Tabatha Ricci

Born|  (1995-02-21) February 21, 1995 (age 29)
Birigui, Brazil
Other names| Baby Shark
Height| 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Weight| 115 lb (52 kg; 8 st 3 lb)
Division| Strawweight
Reach| 61 in (155 cm)[1]
Team| Paragon BJJ (2017–present)[2][3]
Knuckleheadz Boxing[2][3]
Kings MMA (formerly)[3]
Black House[3]
Rank| Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo Miller[4]
Black belt in Judo under Michihiro Omigawa[5]
Years active| 2013–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total| 12
Wins| 10
By knockout| 1
By submission| 3
By decision| 6
Losses| 2
By knockout| 1
By decision| 1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Tabatha Ricci (born February 21, 1995) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, currently competing in the Strawweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of January 23, 2024, she is #11 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings.[6]

## Background[edit]

Ricci was born and raised in Birigui, Brazil.[2] She has an older sister.[7] Following her father's footsteps, Ricci started training Judo at the age of six and took up Muay Thai at the age of 15.[7][3] She started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 17, at 18 started to train Boxing and had her first professional bout.[7][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.[8][9]

## Mixed martial arts career[edit]

### Early career[edit]

Right after turning eighteen, Ricci made her professional mixed martial arts debut.[7] 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.[7][3] In late 2017 she moved to California in order to focus in her Brazilian jiu-jitsu.[7] In 2020 she signed a three-fight contract with Legacy Fighting Alliance[10] where she ultimately won all of her bouts, defeating Kelsey Arnesen at LFA 90 by the way of unanimous decision,[11] Vanessa Marie Grimes via first round armbar at LFA 98[12][13] and finally Shawna Ormsby at LFA 105 via TKO stoppage in the second round.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship[edit]

Replacing withdrawn Maryna Moroz, Ricci made her promotional debut on 4 days notice against Manon Fiorot on June 5, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai.[14] Ricci lost the bout via standing TKO in the second round.[15]

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.[16]

Ricci faced Polyana Viana on May 21, 2022 at UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira.[17] She won the fight via unanimous decision.[18]

Ricci was scheduled to face Cheyanne Vlismas on October 1, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 211.[19] Vlismas pulled out in late August due to personal reasons and was replaced by former UFC Women's Strawweight Championship challenger and inaugural Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Jessica Penne,[20] however the fight was cancelled due to an illness with Penne on the day of the weigh in's.[21]

Ricci faced Jessica Penne on March 4, 2023, at UFC 285.[22] She won the fight via an armbar in the second round.[23]

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

Ricci faced Loopy Godinez on November 11, 2023, at UFC 295.[26] She lost the close bout via split decision.[27]

Ricci faced Tecia Pennington on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56.[28] She won the fight by split decision.[29]

## Mixed martial arts record[edit]

Professional record breakdown  12 matches | 10 wins | 2 losses

|
|

By knockout | 1  | 1
By submission | 3  | 0
By decision | 6  | 1
Res.  | Record  | Opponent  | Method  | Event  | Date  | Round  | Time  | Location  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Win  | 10–2  | Tecia Pennington | Decision (split)  | UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento | May 11, 2024 | 3  | 5:00  | St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Loss  | 9–2  | Loopy Godinez | Decision (split)  | UFC 295 | November 11, 2023 | 3  | 5:00  | New York City, New York, United States  |
Win  | 9–1  | Gillian Robertson | Decision (unanimous)  | UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria | June 24, 2023 | 3  | 5:00  | Jacksonville, Florida, United States  |
Win  | 8–1  | Jessica Penne | Submission (armbar)  | UFC 285 | March 4, 2023 | 2  | 2:14  | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States  |
Win  | 7–1  | Polyana Viana | Decision (unanimous)  | UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira | May 21, 2022 | 3  | 5:00  | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States  |
Win  | 6–1  | Maria Oliveira  | Decision (unanimous)  | UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori | October 23, 2021 | 3  | 5:00  | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States  | Return to Strawweight.
Loss  | 5–1  | Manon Fiorot | TKO (punches)  | UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai | June 5, 2021 | 2  | 3:00  | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States  | Flyweight debut.
Win  | 5–0  | Shawna Ormsby  | TKO (punches)  | LFA 105 | April 23, 2021 | 2  | 4:50  | Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States  |
Win  | 4–0  | Vanessa Marie Grimes  | Submission (armbar)  | LFA 98 | January 29, 2021 | 1  | 1:07  | Park City, Kansas, United States  |
Win  | 3–0  | Kelsey Arnesen  | Decision (unanimous)  | LFA 90 | September 4, 2020 | 3  | 5:00  | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States  |
Win  | 2–0  | Graziele Ricotta  | Decision (unanimous)  | Brazilian Fighting Championship 4  | October 4, 2014 | 3  | 5:00  | Ribeirão Preto, Brazil  |
Win  | 1–0  | Danielle Cunha  | Submission (armbar)  | Fight Masters Combat 1  | December 7, 2013 | 1  | 2:30  | São Paulo, Brazil  | Strawweight debut.

[30]

## See also[edit]

* List of current UFC fighters
* List of female mixed martial artists

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
2. ^ a b c "ABOUT | Tabatha Ricci". tabatharicci.com. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
3. ^ a b c d e f g 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.
5. ^ "The MMA Complex #188 - Tabatha Ricci" (Podcast). June 29, 2020.
6. ^ "UFC Rankings, Division Rankings, P4P rankings, UFC Champions | UFC.com". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
7. ^ a b c d e f Ashlee Evans-Smith (March 18, 2022). "Ep.88 Tabatha "Baby Shark" Ricci" (Podcast).
8. ^ "Tabatha Ricci wants a quick turnaround if she wins at LFA 90 | MMAWeekly.com". 2020-09-03. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
9. ^ King, Kristen (2020-11-13). "Fully committed to MMA again, Tabatha Ricci is making up for lost time". MMA-Prospects.com. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
10. ^ Youngs, Jose (2020-06-28). "LFA signs Tabatha Ricci, judo black belt and Mackenzie Dern training partner". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
11. ^ "Conversamos com Tabatha Ricci, que estreou com vitória no LFA 90". MMA Premium (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
12. ^ "O Liberal Regional - -Lutadora de Birigui finaliza americana no 1º Round no LFA 98". O Liberal Regional - - (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2021-02-03. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
13. ^ Sherdog.com. "LFA 98 Highlight Video: Tabatha Ricci Armbars Vanessa Marie Grimes". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
14. ^ Marcel Dorff (2021-06-02). "Tabatha Ricci vervangt Maryna Moroz zaterdag tegen Manon Fiorot tijdens UFC Fight Night 189". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-02-23.
15. ^ Bitter, Shawn (2021-06-05). "UFC Vegas 28 Results: Manon Fiorot Smashes Newcomer Tabatha Ricci". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
16. ^ Shawn Bitter (October 23, 2021). "UFC Vegas 41 Results: Tabatha Ricci Earns First UFC Win Against Maria Oliveira". cagesidepress.com.
17. ^ Behunin, Alex (2022-02-08). "Tabatha Ricci vs. Polyana Viana Set For May 21 UFC Event". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
18. ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-05-21). "UFC Vegas 55: Tabatha Ricci Takes Polyana Viana the Distance, Wins Decision". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
19. ^ Behunin, Alex; Anderson, Jay; Anderson, Alex Behunin and Jay (2022-06-07). "UFC: Tabatha Ricci to Face Cheyanne Vlismas on October 1". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
20. ^ Farah Hannoun (2022-08-29). "With Cheyanne Vlismas out, Jessica Penne steps in to face Tabatha Ricci at UFC Fight Night 211". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
21. ^ MMA Junkie Staff (30 Sep 2022). "Jessica Penne illness scraps UFC Fight Night 211 bout with Tabatha Ricci". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
22. ^ Nolan King (2022-11-24). "UFC books Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci for March 4 event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
23. ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-03-04). "UFC 285: Tabatha Ricci Puts on Dominant Showing, Submits Jessica Penne". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
24. ^ Tkaczuk, Michał (2023-04-22). "Tabatha Ricci vs Gillian Robertson na czerwcowej gali UFC | MMAROCKS". MMA Rocks! (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-04-26.
25. ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-06-24). "UFC Jacksonville: Tabatha Ricci Fights Smart, Wins Decision Over Submissions Leader Gillian Robertson". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
26. ^ Sherdog.com. "Strawweights Tabatha Ricci, Lupita Godinez to Clash at UFC 295 in New York". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
27. ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-11-12). "UFC 295: Loopy Godinez Sets Another Record in Win Over Tabatha Ricci". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
28. ^ "Tecia Torres returns vs. Tabatha Ricci at UFC Fight Night on May 11". MMA Junkie. 25 February 2024.
29. ^ Anderson, Jay (2024-05-11). "Returning Tecia Pennington Falls Victim to "Baby Shark" Tabatha Ricci at UFC St. Louis". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
30. ^ "Tabatha "Baby Shark" Ricci". Sherdog. Retrieved February 23, 2022.

## External links[edit]

* Tabatha Ricci at UFC
* Professional MMA record for Tabatha Ricci from Sherdog