Brazil’s “Baby Shark,” Tabatha Ricci, took a solid step up in competition at UFC Macau on Saturday, where she appeared in a co-main event fight against Yan Xiaonan.
With Xiaonan coming off a title shot against fellow Chinese star Zhang Weili, a win for Ricci could land her in the title conversation. Xiaonan, meanwhile, was looking to bounce back and start another climb to the top.
Xiaonan started the fight by taking control of the center of the cage and measuring her shots. In the lead-up to this fight, Tabatha Ricci was working with her boyfriend Callum Walsh, and legendary boxing coach Freddie Roach. Xiaonan had complete control on the feet in the first round.
In the second round, Xiaonan started to let her hands fly, briefly wobbling Ricci, but Ricci got a takedown that helped her clear the cobwebs. Every time Xiaonan sat on her strikes, she appeared to hurt “Baby Shark.” Xiaonan was pulling away in the second round, with an obvious edge in the striking department.
With the third round underway, Ricci was unable to get in range to strike, while Xiaonan was teeing off, and playing with her food a little bit. The lead was considerable, and there was no controversy once the scorecards arrived. A very slick performance from Xiaonan, proving that she is one of the top fighters in the UFC women’s strawweight division.
Official Result: Yan Xiaonan def. Tabatha Ricci by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
