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 by her fighting alias Baby Shark, she has built a reputation for technical grappling, durable striking, and composure inside the octagon. With a professional record of twelve wins and three losses, Ricci continues to climb the UFC women’s strawweight rankings and is regarded as one of the most well-rounded athletes in her division.
Standing five feet one inch tall with a reach of sixty-one inches, Ricci has carved out her success through a strong base in grappling and a patient, pressure-oriented style. She began her professional career in 2013 and has since competed across regional circuits in Brazil, Japan, and the United States before establishing herself in North America’s premier mixed martial arts promotion.
Early Life and Background
Tabatha Ricci was born and raised in Birigui, a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Growing up in a supportive household, she has an older sister who remains a part of her personal life. Her introduction to combat sports came early, as she followed her father’s footsteps and began training Judo at the age of six, an experience that shaped her discipline and approach to physical competition.
At fifteen, Ricci added Muay Thai to her training regimen, broadening her striking base and developing a more complete martial arts foundation. Two years later, she began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at seventeen, and at eighteen she took up boxing and stepped into the professional ranks for the first time. These formative years in Birigui laid the groundwork for the multi-disciplinary fighter she would become.
Path to MMA
Ricci made her professional mixed martial arts debut in 2013, just after turning eighteen, and immediately began building a foundation on regional shows. After winning her first two bouts, she found it difficult to secure consistent bookings, an obstacle that pushed her to seek opportunities abroad. In 2017, she moved to Japan for a year to train in various disciplines and compete in custom-rules SEIZA competitions, an experience that broadened her competitive experience.
By late 2017, Ricci had transitioned to California to focus more intensively on her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu development. She earned black belts in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, under Ricardo Miller, and Judo, under Michihiro Omigawa, a rare combination of credentials that reflects her commitment to grappling excellence. In 2020, she signed a three-fight contract with Legacy Fighting Alliance, where she swept her opponents and earned her way into the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Tabatha Ricci Career
Early Career (2013-2020)
Ricci’s earliest professional appearances came on regional circuits in Brazil, where she gained valuable experience against seasoned opponents. Her move to Japan in 2017 proved pivotal, exposing her to different rule sets and training methodologies that sharpened her adaptability. During this period, she trained with multiple academies and refined her blend of striking and grappling.
Her most decisive stretch in the developmental years came with Legacy Fighting Alliance, where she won all three of her contracted bouts. Ricci defeated Kelsey Arnesen by unanimous decision at LFA 90, submitted Vanessa Marie Grimes with a first-round armbar at LFA 98, and finished Shawna Ormsby by second-round technical knockout at LFA 105. That unbeaten run convinced the Ultimate Fighting Championship to bring her into its roster.
UFC Debut and Strawweight Run (2021-2023)
Ricci made her UFC debut on June 5, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 189, replacing the withdrawn Maryna Moroz on four days’ notice against Manon Fiorot. She lost that bout by second-round technical knockout, a setback that served as a steep learning experience. Returning to strawweight, she posted her first UFC win over Maria Oliveira at UFC Fight Night 196 in October 2021 by unanimous decision, then followed it with another decision win over Polyana Viana at UFC Fight Night 206 in May 2022.
Her grappling credentials translated into visible results during this period, as she submitted Jessica Penne with a second-round armbar at UFC 285 in March 2023. Ricci then outpointed Gillian Robertson at UFC on ABC 5 in June 2023. A close split-decision loss to Loopy Godinez at UFC 295 in November 2023 momentarily stalled her momentum, but her evolving confidence in the division was clear.
Top-Tier Challenges and Rise (2024-2025)
In 2024, Ricci began a measured climb up the rankings with a split-decision win over Tecia Pennington at UFC on ESPN 56 in May, followed by a unanimous decision victory over former Invicta champion Angela Hill at UFC on ESPN 62 in August. She closed the year with a unanimous decision loss to Yan Xiaonan at UFC Fight Night 248 in November, a bout that underlined her willingness to face elite competition.
Her 2025 campaign produced a signature result when she defeated Amanda Ribas by second-round technical knockout at UFC on ABC 9 in July, a finish that pushed her firmly into title contention conversations. A scheduled bout with Virna Jandiroba at UFC Fight Night 272 in April 2026 ended in a unanimous decision loss, but she rebounded by accepting a short-notice opportunity against Fatima Kline at UFC Fight Night 281 in July 2026. As of April 2026, Ricci is ranked number eight in the UFC women’s strawweight division.
Style and Strengths
Ricci blends sharp Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a steadily improving striking game, and her black belts in both Judo and BJJ give her a strong top-game and scramble advantage. She favors pressure, positional control, and opportunistic submissions, particularly the armbar, which has become a signature weapon in her finishing arsenal. Her compact frame and five-foot-one stature make her a difficult target to fight at range, and her conditioning allows her to maintain pace deep into rounds.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ricci’s career-defining moments include her LFA run that earned her a UFC contract, her second-round armbar of Jessica Penne at UFC 285, and her 2025 technical knockout of Amanda Ribas. Reaching the number-eight ranking in the UFC women’s strawweight division in 2026 marks another major milestone in a steady ascent through one of the most competitive divisions in the sport.
Tabatha Ricci Career Wins
Across her professional career, Tabatha Ricci has accumulated twelve verified wins, with one by knockout, three by submission, and the remainder spread between decisions. Her finishing instincts have shown up most clearly in her submission victories, including the first-round armbar of Vanessa Marie Grimes and the second-round armbar of Jessica Penne. More recently, her second-round technical knockout of Amanda Ribas in 2025 added a notable finish to her UFC résumé.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Ricci’s win list includes Maria Oliveira, Polyana Viana, Jessica Penne, Gillian Robertson, Tecia Pennington, Angela Hill, and Amanda Ribas. Her unanimous decision over Angela Hill, a former Invicta champion, stands as one of her most prominent victories, while her submission of Penne on a major pay-per-view card highlighted her grappling pedigree. With a current UFC ranking of number eight, she is firmly positioned as a top contender in the strawweight division.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Ricci’s most prominent run came in Legacy Fighting Alliance, where she went three for three and finished two of those opponents. Earlier regional wins in Brazil and her competitive experience during her Japan stint in 2017 rounded out the developmental chapter of her career.
Tabatha Ricci Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Raised in Birigui, in the state of São Paulo, Ricci grew up alongside an older sister and credits her father with introducing her to combat sports. His own background in Judo inspired her to begin training at the age of six, an early influence that shaped the rest of her athletic path. While she does not come from a long line of professional fighters, her family’s encouragement of martial arts provided a clear foundation for her career.
Personal Life
Ricci currently resides in Ventura, California, where she trains with Paragon BJJ, the team she has been affiliated with since 2017. She has previously trained with Black House, Kings MMA, and Knuckleheadz Boxing, reflecting the diverse coaching influences that have shaped her style. Publicly available information about her marital status, spouse, or children has not been confirmed, and she keeps most of her personal life private.
2025 Season Performance
Tabatha Ricci’s 2025 campaign was defined by a high-profile victory and a continued climb up the UFC women’s strawweight rankings. The standout moment came at UFC on ABC 9 in July 2025, where she stopped Amanda Ribas by second-round technical knockout, a finish that showcased her evolving striking and composure on the biggest stage of her career. That result reasserted her as a top contender and pushed her deeper into title-picture discussions.
Surrounding that win, Ricci accepted the bout on short notice when the matchup was shifted from UFC 318, demonstrating her willingness to step up whenever the promotion calls. Her 2025 schedule reflected a fighter in peak form, combining patient point-fighting with sudden finishing instincts. The momentum carried into 2026, where she faced Virna Jandiroba in April before accepting another short-notice opportunity against Fatima Kline in July.
Looking ahead, Ricci’s position at number eight in the division gives her a clear path toward contender bouts in 2025 and beyond. With a balanced skill set rooted in elite-level grappling, a finish-heavy recent résumé, and the trust of her team at Paragon BJJ, she remains one of the most compelling athletes to watch in the women’s strawweight division.
