MACAU, CHINA – NOVEMBER 23: (R-L) Yan Xiaonan of China punches Tabatha Ricci of Brazil of their girls’s strawweight battle in the course of the UFC Battle Evening occasion at Galaxy Area on November 23, 2024 in Macau, China. (Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Brazil’s “Baby Shark,” Tabatha Ricci, took a stable step up in competitors at UFC Macau on Saturday, the place she appeared in a co-main occasion battle towards Yan Xiaonan.
With Xiaonan coming off a title shot towards fellow Chinese language star Zhang Weili, a win for Ricci may land her within the title dialog. Xiaonan, in the meantime, was seeking to bounce again and begin one other climb to the highest.
Xiaonan began the battle by taking management of the middle of the cage and measuring her photographs. Within the lead-up to this battle, Tabatha Ricci was working together with her boyfriend Callum Walsh, and legendary boxing coach Freddie Roach. Xiaonan had full management on the ft within the first spherical.
Within the second spherical, Xiaonan began to let her palms fly, briefly wobbling Ricci, however Ricci acquired a takedown that helped her clear the cobwebs. Each time Xiaonan sat on her strikes, she appeared to harm “Baby Shark.” Xiaonan was pulling away within the second spherical, with an apparent edge within the hanging division.
With the third spherical underway, Ricci was unable to get in vary to strike, whereas Xiaonan was teeing off, and taking part in together with her meals somewhat bit. The lead was appreciable, and there was no controversy as soon as the scorecards arrived. A really slick efficiency from Xiaonan, proving that she is likely one of the high fighters within the UFC girls’s strawweight division.
Official End result: Yan Xiaonan def. Tabatha Ricci by Unanimous Resolution (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
