Former UFC women’s strawweight title challenger Jessica Penne is stepping up on short notice this October.
Penne (14-6) will replace Cheyanne Vlismas at a UFC Fight Night event on October 1, 2022, where she will face Brazilian “Baby Shark” Tabatha Ricci (7-1).
News of the booking was first reported by Dama de Ferro MMA, with Penne subsequently confirming the match-up on social media.
Vlismas, meanwhile, released a statement on her Instagram Story citing personal reasons for her withdrawal.
“Unfortunately my fight with Ricci is off. I had some very personal things happen that will be left unsaid. I will not be able to fight in October,” she wrote. “I asked if I could reschedule to a later date but instead thank you to Mick Maynard I am now re-scheduled for December.”
No word on who Vlismas’ new opponent will be has emerged as of yet. “Sorry for everyone that wanted this fight. Believe me when I say I did too. But things happen. Grateful to still be fighting. New fight news coming soon.”
Penne will enter the October date with Ricci having gone 2-1 since returning from a lengthy USADA suspension last year. After picking up a pair of wins in 2021, she came up short against former Invicta FC strawweight champ Emily Ducote last month at UFC Long Island.
Ricci has won two straight, most recently defeating Polyana Viana by unanimous decision in May.
The UFC’s October 1, 2022 Fight Night event is expected to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The following bouts have been reported for the show:
- Mackenzie Dern vs. Yan Xiaonan
- Cody Garbrandt vs. Rani Yahya
- Francisco Trinaldo vs. Randy Brown
- Raoni Barcelos vs. Trevin Jones
- John Castañeda vs. Daniel Santos
- Leah Letson vs. Chelsea Chandler
- Joaquim Silva vs. Jesse Ronson
- Jessica Penne vs. Tabatha Ricci
- Randy Costa vs. Guido Cannetti
- Brendan Allen vs. Krzysztof Jotko
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Chris Daukaus
- Mike Davis vs. Uroš Medić
- Maxim Grishin vs. Philipe Lins
