Tabatha Ricci

Kline out-struck Ricci from the opening bell and controlled where the fight took place. Well-timed takedowns broke up Ricci's momentum each time she started to build it. Strong takedown defence kept Ricci's own grappling from ever becoming a route back in.

Key moments

• Kline out-struck Ricci from the opening bell and controlled where the fight took place.
• Well-timed takedowns broke up Ricci's momentum each time she started to build it.
• Strong takedown defence kept Ricci's own grappling from ever becoming a route back in.

Ricci dropped a unanimous decision to Virna Jandiroba in her most recent fight and spent too much of the bout reacting to another elite grappler's pace. It was a meaningful setback because a win there would have pushed her deeper into the divisional short list.

Key moments

• Lost a unanimous decision after three rounds.
• Came up short against another high-level Brazilian strawweight grappler.
• The result followed the statement stoppage of Amanda Ribas from the previous summer.

The finish mattered because Ribas is durable, proven and difficult to overwhelm once the fight settles into longer exchanges.

Key moments

• Stopped Ribas by second-round TKO at 2:59.
• The finish came off elbows and punches rather than a pure grappling sequence.
• Answered the Yan Xiaonan loss with a much bigger statement than a routine decision win.

Ricci handled Angela Hill over three rounds and banked another veteran win in a division full of dangerous gatekeepers. Beating Hill mattered because Hill's pace and experience usually force opponents to show they can win disciplined minutes without drifting.

Key moments

• Won a unanimous decision after three rounds.
• Beat another longtime UFC veteran in a matchup built on pace and scrambles.
• Built directly on the split-decision win over Tecia Pennington.

Ricci edged Tecia Pennington by split decision in St. Louis and found a way through one of the division's craftier veteran style tests.

Key moments

• Won a split decision after three rounds.
• Beat a strawweight veteran known for forcing close technical fights.
• Bounced back cleanly from the Loopy Godinez split-decision loss.

The bout mattered because Penne was the more established name, and Ricci did more than just outpoint her.

Key moments

• Submitted Penne with an armbar at 2:14 of round two.
• The finish pushed Ricci to three straight UFC wins.
• It gave Ricci a statement result over a former UFC title challenger.

Ricci's UFC debut came on short notice and up at flyweight, and Fiorot's physical edge eventually told in the second round. Ricci was game, but the matchup was a hard introduction given the weight-class jump and the amount of time she had to prepare.

Key moments

• Lost by standing TKO at exactly 3:00 of round two.
• Stepped in on four days' notice to replace Maryna Moroz.
• Made her UFC debut one division above her preferred strawweight class.

It was an early sign that her game was not limited to quick submissions and that she could handle full-fight pacing when needed.

Key moments

• Won a unanimous decision after three rounds.
• The bout took place at Brazilian FC 4 in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
• It gave Ricci her second professional win in her first year as a pro.

Ricci's professional debut ended with an armbar win over Danielle Cunha in Sao Paulo.

Key moments

• Won her pro debut by armbar at 2:30 of round one.
• The fight was contested at strawweight in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
• It was the first of Ricci's three professional armbar victories.