UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder - Women's Strawweight Pick: Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci

The highly anticipated UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. de Ridder, taking place on July 26, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will feature a compelling women's strawweight bout between two talented Brazilian fighters: Amanda Ribas and Tabatha Ricci.

Fighter Backgrounds

Amanda Ribas

Amanda Ribas (12-6-0) is a 31-year-old Brazilian fighting out of Ribas Family. Known for her infectious personality and well-rounded skillset, Ribas is a black belt in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo, with crisp striking. She has faced a gauntlet of top-tier opponents recently, dropping decisions to Mackenzie Dern (submission loss in Jan 2025), Rose Namajunas (decision loss in Mar 2024), and Katlyn Cerminara (split decision loss in May 2022). Her last win was a TKO over Luana Pinheiro in November 2023.

Tabatha Ricci

Tabatha "Baby Shark" Ricci (11-3-0) is a 30-year-old Brazilian fighting out of Paragon BJJ. Like Ribas, Ricci is also a strong grappler with black belts in BJJ and Judo, and has been continuously improving her striking. She recently suffered a unanimous decision loss to Yan Xiaonan in November 2024. Prior to that, she secured decision wins over Angela Hill (Aug 2024) and Tecia Pennington (May 2024), and notably submitted Jessica Penne in March 2023.

Fighting Styles and Strengths

Amanda Ribas

Well-Rounded: Excels in both striking and grappling.
Volume Striking: Throws a high volume of strikes and has good combinations.
Judo and BJJ: Excellent clinch work, throws, and submissions on the ground.
Aggressiveness: Known for her forward pressure and high-energy fighting style.

Tabatha Ricci

Strong Grappler: Elite BJJ and Judo background, capable of securing takedowns and submissions.
Durability: A tough and resilient fighter who is difficult to put away.
Improved Striking: Continuously refining her stand-up game, utilizing quick strikes and movement.
Clinch Work: Very effective in the clinch, using it to secure takedowns or land short strikes.

Recent Performances

Amanda Ribas

Ribas has had a tough run recently, facing a murderers' row of opponents. While her record shows recent losses, they are against elite contenders and former champions, demonstrating her willingness to take on the best. Her TKO win over Luana Pinheiro showcased her striking power, and she is always a threat to finish the fight.

Tabatha Ricci

Ricci has shown consistent improvement throughout her UFC career, building a solid winning streak before her recent loss to Yan Xiaonan. Her decision wins over Angela Hill and Tecia Pennington proved her ability to grind out victories against seasoned veterans. She is a highly competitive fighter who pushes the pace and can win rounds with her grappling and ever-improving striking.

Odds and Betting Information

Fighter	Odds
Amanda Ribas	-190
Tabatha Ricci	+160

Amanda Ribas is favored at -190, while Tabatha Ricci is the underdog at +160.

Keys to Victory

Amanda Ribas

Striking Volume and Power: Utilize her five-inch reach advantage and higher striking volume to outpoint Ricci on the feet and land significant damage.
Takedown Defense: Defend Ricci's takedown attempts, or at least make her work hard for them, to keep the fight standing where Ribas might have an edge.
Control the Clinch: If the fight goes to the clinch, Ribas's Judo background could allow her to secure dominant positions or execute throws.
Aggression and Pace: Push a high pace to overwhelm Ricci, especially in later rounds.

Tabatha Ricci

Grappling Advantage: Actively pursue takedowns and look for submissions, as her jiu-jitsu could be the difference-maker on the mat.
Clinch Engagement: Initiate clinch exchanges to negate Ribas's striking at range and seek takedowns or dirty boxing.
Head Movement: Avoid staying in the pocket too long and be mindful of Ribas's powerful combinations.
Cardio: Maintain a strong gas tank to keep up with Ribas's pace for all three rounds.

Prediction

This strawweight clash promises to be a competitive and exciting affair between two well-rounded Brazilians. Both fighters possess strong grappling foundations and have been working diligently on their striking. However, Amanda Ribas has a slight edge in terms of overall striking volume and power, along with a significant reach advantage. While Ribas has faced tougher competition recently and has more losses on her record, those losses have come against the absolute elite of the division, proving her toughness and willingness to stand with anyone. The TKO win over Luana Pinheiro also showed her ability to finish fights.

Tabatha Ricci is incredibly tough and continually improving, but her striking defense can be an issue (she gets hit a lot), and her offensive grappling might find it harder to take down and control Ribas, who has solid takedown defense. Ribas's ability to mix up her attacks and apply constant pressure, coupled with her reach advantage, should allow her to land more significant strikes and potentially score takedowns of her own. This fight is likely to go the distance, but Ribas's slightly more diverse offensive arsenal and higher output should sway the judges in her favor.

Prediction: Amanda Ribas via Unanimous Decision.

Best Bet: Amanda Ribas to win (-190). While Ricci is a formidable opponent, Ribas's well-rounded game, slightly superior striking, and experience against higher-ranked opponents give her the edge in this matchup. She has the tools to outpoint Ricci over three rounds and secure the victory.

Betting on MMA carries inherent risks. This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not guarantee outcomes. Please bet responsibly. Odds are subject to change.

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