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]
Tabatha Ricci | |
---|---|
Born | Tabatha Ricci Fabri Salto February 21, 1995 Birigui, São Paulo, 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] |
Fighting out of | Ventura, California, U.S. |
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 | 14 |
Wins | 11 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 3 |
By decision | 7 |
Losses | 3 |
By knockout | 1 |
By decision | 2 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Background
editRicci 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
editEarly career
editRight 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
editReplacing withdrawn Maryna Moroz, Ricci made her promotional debut on 4 days notice against Manon Fiorot on June 5, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai.[15] Ricci lost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
edit14 matches | 11 wins | 3 losses |
By knockout | 1 | 1 |
By submission | 3 | 0 |
By decision | 7 | 2 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 11–3 | Yan Xiaonan | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Figueiredo | November 23, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Macau, SAR, China | |
Win | 11–2 | Angela Hill | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Borralho | August 24, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
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. |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ a b c "ABOUT | Tabatha Ricci". tabatharicci.com. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Desi Flores (November 20, 2020). Tabatha Ricci talks about MMA, Judo & Seiza – via YouTube.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "The MMA Complex #188 - Tabatha Ricci" (Podcast). June 29, 2020.
- ^ "Tabatha Ricci ("Baby Shark") | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
- ^ "Rankings | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ a b c d e f Ashlee Evans-Smith (March 18, 2022). "Ep.88 Tabatha "Baby Shark" Ricci" (Podcast).
- ^ "Tabatha Ricci wants a quick turnaround if she wins at LFA 90 | MMAWeekly.com". 2020-09-03. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Youngs, Jose (2020-06-28). "LFA signs Tabatha Ricci, judo black belt and Mackenzie Dern training partner". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ "Conversamos com Tabatha Ricci, que estreou com vitória no LFA 90". MMA Premium (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "LFA 98 Highlight Video: Tabatha Ricci Armbars Vanessa Marie Grimes". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Bitter, Shawn (2021-06-05). "UFC Vegas 28 Results: Manon Fiorot Smashes Newcomer Tabatha Ricci". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ Shawn Bitter (October 23, 2021). "UFC Vegas 41 Results: Tabatha Ricci Earns First UFC Win Against Maria Oliveira". cagesidepress.com.
- ^ Behunin, Alex (2022-02-08). "Tabatha Ricci vs. Polyana Viana Set For May 21 UFC Event". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2022-05-21). "UFC Vegas 55: Tabatha Ricci Takes Polyana Viana the Distance, Wins Decision". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ MMA Junkie Staff (30 Sep 2022). "Jessica Penne illness scraps UFC Fight Night 211 bout with Tabatha Ricci". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ Nolan King (2022-11-24). "UFC books Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci for March 4 event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-03-04). "UFC 285: Tabatha Ricci Puts on Dominant Showing, Submits Jessica Penne". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ Tkaczuk, Michał (2023-04-22). "Tabatha Ricci vs Gillian Robertson na czerwcowej gali UFC | MMAROCKS". MMA Rocks! (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-04-26.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-06-24). "UFC Jacksonville: Tabatha Ricci Fights Smart, Wins Decision Over Submissions Leader Gillian Robertson". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Strawweights Tabatha Ricci, Lupita Godinez to Clash at UFC 295 in New York". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-11-12). "UFC 295: Loopy Godinez Sets Another Record in Win Over Tabatha Ricci". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ^ "Tecia Torres returns vs. Tabatha Ricci at UFC Fight Night on May 11". MMA Junkie. 25 February 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Nolan King (2024-07-17). "UFC books Angela Hill vs. Tabatha Ricci". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
- ^ Jay Anderson (2024-08-24). "UFC Vegas 96: Active Scrap Sees Tabatha Ricci Get Past Angela Hill". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ "UFC Macau adds Yan Xiaonan vs. Tabatha Ricci, Volkan Oezdemir vs. Carlos Ulberg, return of Wang Cong". MMA Junkie. 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
- ^ Patrick McCorry (2024-11-23). "One-Sided UFC Macau Co-Main Event Sees Yan Xiaonan Top Tabatha Ricci". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ "Tabatha "Baby Shark" Ricci". Sherdog. Retrieved February 23, 2022.