Tabatha Ricci Bio
Tabatha Ricci Fabri Salto (born February 21, 1995) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist competing in the women’s Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Known inside the cage by the nickname Baby Shark, she built her career on a foundation in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Muay Thai, and now holds a professional record of 12 wins and 3 losses. As of August 2025, she is ranked among the top ten strawweights in the world. She currently trains out of Paragon BJJ in California while representing the next generation of well-rounded Brazilian fighters.
Early Life and Background
Tabatha Ricci was born and raised in Birigui, a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. She grew up in an active household with an older sister and was introduced to combat sports at a young age. Following her father’s footsteps, she began training Judo at the age of six, which gave her an early understanding of throws, balance, and leverage.
As a teenager, Ricci broadened her martial arts background. She started training Muay Thai at 15 and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 17, then added Boxing at 18. The combination of striking, grappling, and clinch work helped shape the well-rounded style she brings into the cage today. Her family supported her early athletic development, and her father’s influence in martial arts is often cited as a key reason she pursued fighting as a career.
Path to MMA
Ricci made her professional mixed martial arts debut in 2013, shortly after turning 18. She won her first two professional bouts, but with limited opportunities for women in the sport in her home region, she sought competition abroad. In 2017, she moved to Japan, where she spent about a year training and competing in SEIZA-style events, sharpening her skills against international opposition.
Later in 2017, Ricci relocated to California to focus on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and her overall MMA game. In 2020, she signed a three-fight deal with Legacy Fighting Alliance, where she went on to win all three of her appearances, earning finishes and decision wins alike. That unbeaten LFA run opened the door to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where she has since become a consistent presence in the strawweight division.
Tabatha Ricci Career
Early Career (2013–2020)
Ricci’s early professional years were split between Brazil and Japan. After opening her career with two straight victories, she took on international matchmaking in SEIZA competitions, gaining experience with custom-rules formats. Her move to California in late 2017 marked a turning point, as she committed full-time to MMA training under established coaches and a structured program.
Her Legacy Fighting Alliance stint in 2020 was the springboard to the UFC. She defeated Kelsey Arnesen by unanimous decision at LFA 90, submitted Vanessa Marie Grimes with a first-round armbar at LFA 98, and stopped Shawna Ormsby via TKO in the second round at LFA 105. The clean three-fight sweep made it clear she was ready for the highest level of the sport.
UFC Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Ricci made her UFC debut on just four days’ notice, replacing the withdrawn Maryna Moroz against Manon Fiorot at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai on June 5, 2021. She lost that bout by standing TKO in the second round but used the short-notice experience as motivation. Returning to strawweight, she earned her first UFC win against Maria Oliveira at UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori in October 2021, taking a unanimous decision.
In 2022, she added a second straight UFC win over Polyana Viana at UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Vieira, again by unanimous decision. A scheduled bout with Cheyanne Vlismas that October fell through after replacement opponent Jessica Penne fell ill at weigh-ins, but the two finally met at UFC 285 in March 2023. Ricci finished Penne with a second-round armbar, her first UFC submission victory.
She kept her momentum going at UFC on ABC 5 in June 2023, outpointing Gillian Robertson by unanimous decision, before running into a tough split-decision loss to Loopy Godinez at UFC 295 in November 2023. Across her first three years in the promotion, she established herself as a durable, technical fighter capable of going the distance or hunting submissions.
UFC Top-Ten Era (2024–Present)
Ricci opened 2024 with a split-decision win over Tecia Pennington at UFC on ESPN 56 in May. A few months later, she took a unanimous decision from former Invicta strawweight titleholder Angela Hill at UFC on ESPN 62, a result that pushed her firmly into the title conversation. Her climb was briefly checked at UFC Fight Night 248 in November 2024, when she dropped a unanimous decision to ranked contender Yan Xiaonan.
In 2025, Ricci was originally booked against Amanda Ribas at UFC 318 in July. The bout was shifted to UFC on ABC 9 on July 26, 2025, where Ricci produced one of the most decisive performances of her career, winning by technical knockout in the second round. The win cemented her place in the upper tier of the division and confirmed her status as a rising Brazilian star at 115 pounds.
Fighting Style and Strengths
Ricci is a compact, technically efficient fighter at 5 feet 1 inch tall, with a 61-inch reach. Her black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo give her elite-level grappling, including strong clinch work, trips, and a dangerous top game highlighted by her armbar finishes. She complements that grappling with sharp Muay Thai and boxing, making her equally comfortable striking from range or dragging opponents into chess matches on the mat.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signing with the UFC on four days’ notice in 2021 remains one of the defining moments of her career, showing her willingness to step in against top opposition. Her second-round armbar of Jessica Penne at UFC 285 in 2023 announced her finishing ability at the highest level, while her 2025 TKO of Amanda Ribas confirmed her growth as a striker. By mid-2025, her ranking inside the UFC women’s strawweight top ten reflected years of steady, methodical progress.
Tabatha Ricci Career Wins
Ricci has built a professional record of 12 wins and 3 losses, with victories spread across decisions, submissions, and knockouts. Her finishing arsenal includes one knockout win and three submission wins, with the remainder of her victories coming by decision. She has beaten a mix of prospects, gatekeepers, and former champions across multiple major promotions.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Ricci has earned wins over Maria Oliveira, Polyana Viana, Jessica Penne, Gillian Robertson, Tecia Pennington, Angela Hill, and Amanda Ribas. Her finishes in the promotion include the second-round armbar of Penne at UFC 285 and the second-round TKO of Ribas at UFC on ABC 9. Her UFC losses have come against Manon Fiorot, Loopy Godinez, and Yan Xiaonan, all on the heels of strong performances that kept her within striking distance of the rankings.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Ricci swept her three LFA appearances in 2020, including a first-round armbar of Vanessa Marie Grimes and a second-round TKO of Shawna Ormsby. Earlier in her career, she compiled wins in Japan across SEIZA events and on the regional Brazilian circuit. Her unbeaten run in LFA was the clearest sign that she was prepared for the global stage.
Tabatha Ricci Family
Family Background and Fighting Lineage
Ricci credits her father as the person who first introduced her to martial arts, and she began Judo at age six following in his footsteps. She grew up with an older sister in Birigui, and her family’s encouragement helped push her toward a professional fighting career. Her multi-discipline training in Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Boxing reflects a household that valued athletic development.
Personal Life
Ricci is a Brazilian national who now resides in Ventura, California, where she trains at Paragon BJJ. She has trained with several high-profile teams over the years, including Knuckleheadz Boxing, Kings MMA, and Black House. She is widely recognized in the MMA community by her nickname Baby Shark.
2025 Season Performance
Ricci entered 2025 ranked inside the UFC women’s strawweight top ten and looking to push toward title contention. Her first scheduled appearance of the year was against Amanda Ribas at UFC 318, a matchup that was shifted to UFC on ABC 9 on July 26, 2025. The change of date did not derail her momentum, and she produced a statement second-round technical knockout that reminded the division of her finishing upside.
With the Ribas win, Ricci moved to 12-3 as a professional and further strengthened her case for a marquee fight. The performance suggested a fighter peaking in her late twenties, combining sharper striking with her established grappling base. Heading into the back half of 2025, she sits firmly in the title picture at 115 pounds, with the rest of the division on notice.
Her trajectory through 2025 has been built on consistency rather than flash, with each win adding a new tool to her game. The Ribas finish in particular showed a more dangerous standup arsenal alongside her usual ground craft. If she can keep stacking results, a showdown with one of the division’s top five appears to be a realistic next step.