Tabatha Ricci eyes UFC 330 backup role after Oklahoma City
Tabatha Ricci wants to leave UFC Oklahoma City healthy enough to step in as the backup fighter for the upcoming strawweight title bout between Gillian Robertson and Mackenzie Dern.
The Brazilian strawweight meets Fatima Kline on Saturday at UFC Oklahoma City, according to MMA Fighting, and plans to volunteer for the reserve slot at UFC 330 if she emerges without injury. Ricci holds a decision win over Robertson from June 2023, making her the last woman to beat the Canadian contender inside the octagon. Robertson has since reeled off five straight victories to earn her shot at Dern's belt in the August 15 co-main event in Philadelphia.
Ricci on Robertson versus Dern matchup
Ricci gave Dern a slight edge in the championship pairing, citing the champion's grappling pedigree and current momentum. She told MMA Fighting that Robertson remains dangerous on the mat and could surprise Dern with her aggression in scrambles. "Gillian is very aggressive on the ground too and I don't know if Mackenzie has faced someone as aggressive on the mat as she is," Ricci said. The Brazilian added with a laugh that if Robertson wins, perhaps the new champion will call her out for a rematch.
Before any title talk materializes, Ricci needs to rebound from an April decision loss to Virna Jandiroba. She views Kline as a serious test after the prospect's three-fight UFC winning streak against Victoria Dudakova, Melissa Martinez and Angela Hill. Ricci acknowledged Kline's striking threat but believes her own well-rounded game and experience against top competition should give her the advantage. She framed the bout as striker versus grappler, telling MMA Fighting that whoever executes their game plan early will control the fight.
Ricci said her goal is to impress and put herself back in position for a title shot, whether or not the UFC 330 backup opportunity pans out.
Photo: MM-eh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Original reporting:
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