UFC"Baby Shark" | Rank 8Tabatha Ricci Record: 12-4-0
StrawweightRecord12-4-0
Age31
DivisionStrawweight · #22
Combat Edge Elo1657
Next fightJul 18 2026
Tabatha Ricci has a 12-4-0 professional record and is 31 years old in the Strawweight division, representing Brazilian Thai. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Jun 25, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Tabatha Ricci bio
Personal background
Tabatha Ricci, nicknamed "Baby Shark," is a Brazilian strawweight competing in the UFC with a professional record of 12–4. Born on February 21, 1995, in São Paulo state, Brazil, Ricci was raised in a combat-sports household: her father, a judo black belt, put her on the mat in judo at age six. She added Muay Thai as a teenager and Brazilian jiu-jitsu shortly after, eventually earning a BJJ black belt to go with her judo foundation. That grappling-first base, sharpened by a striking game, became the spine of her MMA style. Now training at Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Ventura, California – where she is a training partner of fellow UFC strawweight MacKenzie Dern – the diminutive 5'1" fighter earned the "Baby Shark" nickname from a coach who joked that the smallest athlete circling among much bigger training partners was a little shark swimming with the big fish.
Path to the UFC
Ricci made her professional debut back in 2014 and built her record through Brazil and a stint on the U.S. regional scene, signing with Legacy Fighting Alliance before getting her UFC call. That call came on dramatic short notice in June 2021, when she stepped in as a replacement and moved up to flyweight to face the surging Manon Fiorot. The mismatch in size showed and she was stopped by a second-round standing TKO, but the willingness to take the fight announced her to the division.
Building a strawweight contender
Dropping back to her natural 115 pounds, Ricci reeled off a strong run. She outpointed Maria Oliveira in October 2021 and Polyana Viana the following May, both by unanimous decision, establishing herself as a steady, well-rounded talent. In March 2023, she showcased the grappling side of her game with a second-round armbar submission of veteran Jessica Penne on the UFC 285 card, then took a unanimous decision over Gillian Robertson in June. A split-decision loss to Lupita Godinez in November 2023 slowed her, but she rebounded with split- and unanimous-decision wins over Tecia Pennington and Angela Hill in 2024.
Recent run
The climb met stiffer resistance against the division's elite. Ricci dropped a unanimous decision to ranked contender Xiaonan Yan in November 2024 before producing one of her career-best results in July 2025, finishing the dangerous Amanda Ribas by second-round TKO from elbows and punches. She was then outpointed by former title challenger Virna Jandiroba over three rounds in April 2026.
Fighting style
Ricci is a grappling-anchored fighter whose game flows from her judo and jiu-jitsu roots. Her finish breakdown – three submissions and two knockouts among 12 wins, with seven decisions – reflects a fighter who more often wins on points than by stoppage, controlling positions and out-working opponents over three rounds. Her judo background gives her trips and clinch control that few strawweights can match, while her improving striking produced the TKO of Ribas. The honest limitation is finishing power and size at the top of the division: her losses have come against bigger, rangier, or more decorated opponents who can keep the fight standing or simply out-volume her.
Career highlights
- TKO of Amanda Ribas — stopped the dangerous Amanda Ribas in 2025 for one of the signature wins of her career.
- Submission win over a former title challenger — armbarred veteran Jessica Penne at UFC 285, showcasing her judo-to-jiu-jitsu pedigree.
- Multi-discipline foundation — a judo and BJJ black belt who built a winning UFC strawweight run on grappling control and a steadily improving striking attack.
Career snapshot
Tabatha Ricci career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1657Good ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Overall#726
Women's Strawweight#22of 65 active
Peak1669
Last move-12
Opponent quality1652avg. pre-fight Elo · last 10
Career-high 1669 Elo after defeating Gillian Robertson (2023-06-24)
Similar Elo in Women's Strawweight
Tabatha Ricci quick answers
What is Tabatha Ricci's record?
Tabatha Ricci's professional MMA record is 12-4-0.
How old is Tabatha Ricci?
Tabatha Ricci is 31 years old.
What weight class is Tabatha Ricci?
Tabatha Ricci fights at Strawweight in UFC.
How tall is Tabatha Ricci?
Tabatha Ricci is 5'2" tall with a 61" reach.
How much does Tabatha Ricci weigh?
Tabatha Ricci competes at Strawweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 115 lbs.
What is Tabatha Ricci's Combat Edge Elo?
Tabatha Ricci's Combat Edge Elo is 1657, with a peak Elo of 1669.
How strong is Tabatha Ricci's recent opposition?
Tabatha Ricci's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1652 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Tabatha Ricci's last fight?
Tabatha Ricci's latest tracked pro fight was against Virna Jandiroba at UFC Fight Night on Apr 4 2026.
What is Tabatha Ricci's recent form?
Tabatha Ricci's recent tracked pro form is L-W-L-W-W over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Tabatha Ricci usually win?
Tabatha Ricci's 12 recorded wins include 2 knockouts, 3 submissions, and 7 decisions, with 42% ending before the final bell.
2Wins by knockout
3Wins by submission
7Wins by decision
1Loss by knockout
0Loss by submission
3Loss by decision
Tabatha Ricci stats
Record : 12 / 4 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
4Fighter3.72Division average
Significant striking accuracy
37%Fighter45%Division average
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
4.83Fighter4.24Division average
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
58%Fighter54%Division average
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
2.51Fighter1.24Division average
Takedown accuracy
8%Fighter37%Division average
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
65%Fighter55%Division average
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
0.10Fighter0.39Division average
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
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