Tabatha Ricci

Angelo picks Virna Jandiroba, believing she is the better wrestler and can control the fight. He criticizes Tabatha Ricci's striking, saying she thinks she's a boxer but isn't, and her takedowns are poor. He notes Jandiroba is one judge away from being champion and expects her to grind out a win. He placed a half-unit bet on Jandiroba at +115.

Big Brady leans toward Tabatha Ricci but with low confidence. He acknowledges Jandiroba is a higher-level grappler but thinks Ricci is stronger, has better wrestling, and is the better striker. He sees a path where Ricci stuffs takedowns and wins on the feet. He also notes Jandiroba's age (37) and potential lack of motivation after a title loss. He will not bet this fight.

Cody picks Ricci because she is the better striker and has excellent takedown defense, making it hard for Jandiroba to hold her down. He believes the judges will favor damage over control time, and Ricci's striking will leave a lasting impression.

The host is torn on the winner, seeing strong cases for both. He initially leaned Ricci due to youth and volume, but after research, he sees Jandiroba's power and ground advantage as significant. He concludes the fight is too close to bet pre-fight and prefers live betting. However, he does bet Ricci +3.5 on the fight spread.

James mentions the co-main event but does not give a pick for either fighter. He only describes the matchup as interesting.

James leans toward Virna Jandiroba as the underdog, surprised by the odds given Jandiroba's recent title fight and superior grappling. He believes Jandiroba's top control and submission threat are the best in the division, and that Ricci hasn't faced such a test. He notes Ricci's striking advantage but doubts her power, calling her knockout of Amanda Ribas a fluke. However, he hesitates due to Jandiroba's age (37) and potential post-title-fight letdown, and mentions he might bet the over instead. He picks Jandiroba via decision but is not confident enough to bet.

The host believes Jandiroba's grappling will be too much for Ricci, as she can get takedowns and keep Ricci in defensive positions. He notes Ricci's improved striking but doubts she can provide enough danger to keep Jandiroba from her game. He expects Jandiroba to win by decision, controlling the fight with top pressure.

Paul leans towards Ricci, noting that Jandiroba's grappling-heavy style may not score well if judges prioritize damage. He acknowledges Jandiroba's takedown ability but thinks Ricci's striking and ability to get back up will be key.

Angelo picks Amanda Ribas but is split between brain and gut. He notes Ribas is well-rounded with solid takedown defense and striking, while Tabatha Ricci has abandoned her grappling for boxing due to her boyfriend's influence. He believes Ricci's new style is ineffective and Ribas is the better fighter, but acknowledges Ricci's pressure and cardio could cause an upset.

Big Brady picks Amanda Ribas, believing she is the better striker and grappler. He notes Ribas has a reach advantage and a positive striking differential, while Ricci has low volume and a very short reach. He acknowledges Ribas has chin issues but thinks Ricci lacks power to exploit it. He predicts a decision win.

Both women are flaky, but Ricci has the ability to work through Ribas's unflashy striking game and could even land takedowns to grind out a decision win.

Angelo picks Yan Xiaonan, praising her boxing and technical striking. He acknowledges Tabatha Ricci's pressure and cardio but believes Yan's skills and takedown defense will prevail. He suggests the over 2.5 rounds is a good bet.

Big Brady picks Tabatha Ricci with little confidence. He thinks the odds are off and that Yan Xiaonan's takedown defense is questionable, recalling the Carla Esparza loss where Yan was easily taken down. If Ricci can get takedowns, she can win minutes on top. Even on the feet, Ricci can push Yan against the cage and burn clock. Brady sees a path for Ricci to win by decision but is not confident.

Cody picks Ricci as a live underdog, arguing that Yan's takedown defense is suspect and Ricci's grappling is elite. He notes that Ricci has taken down multiple black belts and that Yan was exposed by Carla Esparza's wrestling. He believes Ricci can get takedowns, control top position, and grind out a decision or even a submission. He likes Ricci by decision at plus money.

Connor also picks Yan, emphasizing that Yan's boxing is far superior and that Ricci's grappling, while strong, may not be effective against a bigger, high-output striker. He notes that Ricci's top game is static and she struggles to finish, so Yan can survive takedowns and win on the feet. Connor agrees that the three-round format helps Ricci but still favors Yan.

Daniel Vreeland is a long-time Yan Xiaonan backer and continues the trend here. He sees a big size and striking advantage for Yan, noting Ricci's janky striking and poor top control. He references Ricci's inability to hold down Angela Hill and believes Yan's improved takedown defense and toughness will allow her to get back up. He expects Yan to light Ricci up on the feet and win decisively.

James leans towards Yan Xiaonan as the better striker, but is cautious due to Yan coming off a brutal loss and Ricci's improving grappling. He expects Yan to win a 29-28 decision on damage, but considers it a pass fight with no strong betting opinion.

Paul picks Yan Xiaonan but is hesitant, noting that Ricci has a path to victory via takedowns and control. He thinks Yan's striking power and ferocity will be the difference, but she must stay off her back and get up immediately if taken down. He expects a close fight that goes to decision and could see a split.

The MMA Guru picks Yan Xiaonan over Tabatha Ricci, citing Yan's better boxing, range control, and size advantage. He notes Yan has fought top competition, including a decision loss to Zhang Weili where she dropped Zhang, and wins over Jessica Andrade and Mackenzie Dern. He believes Ricci's 'bunder' won't sway judges in China. He predicts a decision win for Yan.

Angelo picks Angela Hill, citing her veteran savvy, length, cardio, and experience. He notes that Hill has found a late-career resurgence at 39 and is a high-IQ striker who can avoid takedowns and exploit rookie mistakes. He mentions that Ricci went 1-for-10 on takedowns in her last fight and was outstruck, but judges favored her pressure. He thinks Hill can steal a decision and recommends the over 2.5 rounds.

Cody picks Ricci because of her youth, athleticism, and superior grappling. He believes she can take Hill down and control the fight, as Hill is not as elusive as other grapplers Ricci has faced. He notes Ricci's path to victory is clear: mix in takedowns and control time. He also mentions that Hill is 39 and may not have the same durability.

Daniel Vreeland picks Tabatha Ricci but is not confident due to inconsistent judging. He notes Ricci's improving volume and jiu-jitsu advantage, while Hill has been on a resurgence. He thinks Ricci might win by split decision or submission, but acknowledges the fight could be a robbery.

Brevin picks Angela Hill, noting she has entered her prime at 39 with sharp striking and improved grappling. He thinks her length and volume will be key. He acknowledges Ricci's grappling advantage but believes Hill can defend takedowns and win on the feet. JP disagrees, picking Ricci by decision, citing Hill's 12-13 UFC record and age. He thinks Ricci's grappling, though not submission-heavy, will be enough, and notes Hill goes to decision often but doesn't win dominantly.

Paul leans towards Hill because of her high volume striking and improved grappling. He thinks Hill can outwork Ricci on the feet and avoid takedowns. He notes the fight is a coin flip but sides with the steam on Hill. He also mentions that Hill's experience and recent submission win show her grappling improvements.

Angelo picks Tabatha Ricci because he doubts Tecia Pennington will be the same fighter after having a baby and a two-year layoff. He notes Ricci's relentless takedowns and top pressure, and that she has beaten good grapplers. He acknowledges Pennington's well-rounded skills but thinks the layoff and motherhood are too big a question mark.

Big Brady picks Tecia Pennington (Torres) for the upset, despite acknowledging red flags like her two-year layoff after having a baby. He believes Torres has the better striking and volume, and that even if Ricci takes her down, Torres has a good get-up game and is physically strong. He notes Ricci's path to victory is getting takedowns, but she failed to do so in losses to Fiorot and Lupi. He expects the fight to primarily take place standing, favoring Torres.

Cody picks Pennington but is leaning, not confident. He notes that Pennington (formerly Torres) has a history of high volume and has fought the best, but she is coming off a layoff and a loss. He thinks her volume and takedown defense will be key, and she can outwork Ricci on the feet. However, he acknowledges it's a coin flip and wishes for better plus money.

Daniel Vreeland picks Tabatha Ricci, but hesitantly. He notes that Tecia Pennington is the better fighter on her best day, but she is coming off a pregnancy, which often leads to a drop in performance. He also questions Ricci's level but thinks the pregnancy factor gives Ricci the edge. He acknowledges it could go either way.

The host picks Pennington due to her takedown defense and striking speed, which should keep the fight upright and cause Ricci problems. He notes the long layoff after childbirth as a concern but thinks the stylistic matchup favors her. He would only bet if the line moves to +150, indicating a lean rather than a confident play.

Paul picks Pennington, citing her volume and experience. He notes that Ricci's striking is stiff and she relies on takedowns, but Pennington has good takedown defense. Paul thinks Pennington can outwork Ricci in a competitive decision. However, he is not confident and calls it a coin flip.

Angelo picks Godinez, emphasizing her wrestling and size advantage. He criticizes Ricci's striking and takedowns, believing Godinez can defend takedowns and win on the feet. He is not insanely confident but thinks Godinez gets it done.

Big Brady picks Loopy Godinez by decision. He believes Godinez is the better striker with good volume and power, and also the better wrestler with strong takedown defense. He thinks Godinez can dictate where the fight takes place and win striking exchanges even if she doesn't wrestle. He notes Godinez's past fight IQ issues but doesn't think they'll matter here.

Cody picks Godinez, citing her boxing volume, pressure, and improved ring IQ. He notes she has size and strength advantages, and that Ricci's wrestling likely won't be enough. He thinks Godinez wins on volume and pressure, though he's not confident enough to bet heavily.

Godinez's wrestling background should allow her to keep the fight upright where she has the striking advantage. Ricci will need to take it to the ground to have success, but Godinez can control where the fight takes place. The line has moved from -120/-130 to -170, which makes sense, but he would prefer a better line around -130 to bet. Prediction is Godinez by decision.

Paul agrees, noting Godinez's striking advantage and that Ricci's wrestling will be negated. He thinks Godinez will win on volume, though he acknowledges the New York commission can be unpredictable. He sees Godinez as the rightful favorite.

Angelo picks Tabatha Ricci, citing her strength, pressure, and superior grappling. He believes Ricci is too strong for Gillian Robertson to take down and will be the better grappler on the ground. He has half a unit on Ricci at -121 and notes the line has yo-yoed. He sees Ricci as the next evolution of the wrestle-boxer style.

Big Brady leans towards Tabatha Ricci, believing she will be the better wrestler and striker. He notes Robertson's poor takedown defense (25%) and tendency to accept being on her back. He thinks Ricci's Judo background and BJJ black belt will allow her to get takedowns and control the fight. He predicts a decision win but acknowledges it could go either way.

Cody picks Robertson, citing her size and strength advantage. He notes her grappling credentials but acknowledges her struggles against good wrestlers. He thinks the plus money is worth it and expects a close fight.

Connor picks Ricci because she is strong, an excellent grappler, and increasingly comfortable on the feet. He notes that Robertson's winning condition is narrow: she must get on top and dominate with submissions or ground and pound. Ricci is difficult to take down and is rapidly improving everywhere, while Robertson had to learn striking and still looks awkward. Connor also points out that Ricci seems to enjoy striking and will look significantly faster than Robertson. He suggests Ricci could even choose to avoid grappling entirely and work on her striking against a slower, more cumbersome opponent.

Daniel Levi picks Tabatha Ricci, citing her ability to keep the fight standing or wrestle in reverse. He notes Robertson's submission threat but thinks Ricci's jiu-jitsu and physicality can neutralize it. He believes Ricci has more paths to victory and can survive on the ground if needed.

The host picks Tabatha Ricci to win by decision. He believes Ricci is a superior grappler and wrestler who will get top position and control Robertson. He notes Robertson's tendency to play off her back and thinks Ricci will be too privy to her submission attempts. He expects Ricci to dominate the fight with top control and win a decision.

Paul picks Ricci, citing her striking advantage and top control. He notes her training with Mackenzie Dern and thinks she can avoid Robertson's submissions. He mentions he already bet Ricci at -125.

The Guru picks Gillian Robertson over the majority pick Tabatha Ricci. He believes Robertson's length and reach advantage will allow her to lead the dance, and she does more damage on the ground with ground and pound. He thinks both are grapplers but Robertson's aggression and experience will win her a split decision based on damage.

Angelo is confident in Tabatha Ricci, citing her strong grappling, top pressure, and submission skills. He notes that Jessica Penne has only 40% takedown defense and that Ricci should dominate with her wrestling. Angelo bet 1.5 units on Ricci at -240.

Big Brady picks Tabatha Ricci, noting her ability to dictate where the fight takes place with her wrestling and judo. He mentions Penne's poor takedown defense (40%) and that Ricci can safely grapple without getting caught in submissions. He predicts a decision win for Ricci, with the fight primarily on the mat.

Cody picks Ricci, citing her youth, judo, and well-rounded game. He thinks Penne is too old and has been off for four years. He expects Ricci to win by decision or submission.

Connor picks Tabatha Ricci, though he is not confident. He notes that Ricci is a high-level BJJ black belt and will likely take the fight to the ground, where Penne is actually good. However, he thinks Ricci's aggression and functional grappling will allow her to win positions and avoid being submitted. Connor admits the fight is hard to analyze and could go either way.

Jacob agrees with Angelo, comparing this fight to Ricci's previous win over Polyana Viana. He believes Penne is a step down in competition and that Ricci will dominate with her pressure and top control. Jacob is fully confident in Ricci.

Ricci is a high-level BJJ black belt with good wrestling and control time. Penne is 40, has poor striking, and relies on dragging fights to the ground, but Ricci will likely be on top and avoid submissions. Ricci grinds out a decision victory.

Paul agrees with Cody, picking Ricci. He notes the line has moved from -175 to -325, indicating sharp money. He thinks Ricci's grappling and youth will be too much for Penne.

The MMA Guru picks Tabatha Ricci, citing Jessica Penne's age (40) and Ricci's grappling advantage. He expects Ricci to control top position and win a split decision, noting that women's MMA judging often favors control time.

Angelo picks Tabatha Ricci because she is a very good grappler with solid forward pressure and frequent takedowns. He notes that Viana is submission-or-bust and struggles with takedown accuracy. Ricci's last win at 115 pounds showed her takedown ability. Angelo expects Ricci to wrestle heavily and win a decision, and he plans to include her in his DraftKings lineup.

Big Brady picks Tabatha Ricci to win by decision, citing her superior wrestling and BJJ black belt. He notes Viana relies on pulling guard and submissions off her back, but Ricci is a legitimate black belt who should be able to avoid submissions and control the fight on the mat. He expects Ricci to take Viana down with little resistance and win a decision.

Cody picks Ricci, citing her wrestling, BJJ black belt, and better striking. He notes Viana's reliance on armbars from guard but believes Ricci's jiu-jitsu pedigree will prevent her from getting caught. He thinks Ricci can out-strike Viana, take her down, and win a decision, even if she fades in the third.

The host picks Tabatha Ricci to win, expecting her to grind out a victory. He notes that Viana is always live for a submission but does not think she gets it tonight. He believes Ricci's grappling and control time will be the difference, and he does not see the Viana side himself. He does not have a bet on Ricci but is confident in her winning.

Paul picks Ricci, saying she should have the wrestling to keep the fight upright and the grappling to avoid Viana's submissions. He notes Viana's craftiness off her back but believes Ricci is the side.

Angelo sees this as a striker vs grappler matchup and always sides with the grappler. He notes Ricci is a very good grappler who is heavy on top and looks for submissions without sacrificing position. Oliveira is a tall striker who doesn't use her range and has nothing on her back. He thinks Ricci can get the fight to the ground easily and may even get a stoppage. He will spend 8900 on her in DraftKings.

Big Brady is confident in Ricci, calling her a good grappler with a black belt in BJJ, while Oliveira has poor takedown defense and ground game. He believes the UFC is giving Ricci a favorable matchup after a short-notice loss. He predicts a second-round submission despite Oliveira's size advantage.

Cody picks Tabatha Ricci, but hesitantly. He notes that Ricci has a judo black belt and should be able to take Oliveira down, as Oliveira has poor takedown defense. Cody points out that Oliveira has quit in a previous fight and has not fought good competition recently. However, he worries that if Ricci cannot get the takedown, she will struggle on the feet due to her short reach. Cody believes this is a good matchup for Ricci but the price is high.

Lock picks Ricci based on massive grappling advantage. He notes Oliveira is not UFC level and has poor ground game. Ricci should take her down and submit her. He likes Ricci inside the distance and by submission.

Paul is out on this fight, citing concerns about Ricci's wrestling and the steep price. He notes that Oliveira has a significant reach advantage and that Ricci's training partners have not looked great. Paul believes that if the fight stays standing, Oliveira could win. He does not make a pick.

Big Brady sees Fiorot as a phenomenal striker with power and volume, though her level of competition is low. He notes Ricci is hittable with 53% striking defense and negative strike differential. He doubts Ricci can take Fiorot down or hold her down, citing Ricci's poor takedown accuracy (18%) and Fiorot's strong takedown defense and get-up game. He predicts Fiorot wins by decision, calling it a big test she will pass.

Cody picks Fiorot, noting her diverse striking and improvements in grappling. He thinks her size and strength will be too much for Ricci, who is moving up on short notice. Cody expects Fiorot to win comfortably.

Daniel picks Fiorot to win by knockout, specifically a body kick knockout. He notes that Fiorot is much bigger (5'7" vs 5'1"), physical, has nasty kicks, and improving takedown defense. He believes Ricci is too small and that Fiorot will be able to keep the fight standing and land her strikes. Daniel is confident Fiorot will steamroll Ricci and get a finish.

Fiorot is bigger, stronger, and a better striker. Ricci is on short notice and moving up in weight. Fiorot should keep the fight standing and win by decision or TKO.

Paul picks Fiorot confidently, citing her striking and size advantage. He notes Ricci is a natural strawweight taking the fight on short notice. Paul thinks Fiorot's kicks and clinch will be too much. He expects Fiorot to be a heavy favorite.