Fatima Kline meets Tabatha Ricci as Ricci seeks UFC 330 role
Tabatha Ricci faces rising strawweight Fatima Kline at UFC Oklahoma City on Saturday, July 18, hoping to leave the octagon without injuries so she can volunteer as the backup for Gillian Robertson versus Mackenzie Dern at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on Aug. 15. A win would also help the Brazilian rebound from an April decision loss and put herself back in strawweight title conversation.
Key Takeaways
- Fatima Kline meets Tabatha Ricci in a strawweight bout at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18.
- Ricci told MMA Fighting she will ask to be the backup for Robertson vs. Dern at UFC 330 if she exits OKC healthy.
- Kline enters on a three-fight UFC win streak and took the bout on roughly four weeks' notice after an Amanda Ribas matchup fell through.
- Ricci beat Robertson by decision in June 2023 and is coming off a loss to Virna Jandiroba.
- Oddsmakers list Kline as a heavy favorite for the Paycom Center clash, streaming on Paramount+.
Why does Fatima Kline vs. Tabatha Ricci matter this weekend?
The matchup sits on the UFC Oklahoma City main card and pits a ranked veteran against a surging prospect. According to Yahoo Sports, Ricci sees a strong OKC performance as a path back toward title contention after her April setback against Jandiroba.
Kline, initially booked against Amanda Ribas, now faces Ricci on short notice. Action Network reports Kline is 9-1 overall with three straight UFC wins over Victoria Dudakova, Melissa Martinez, and Angela Hill. Ricci is listed at 12-4 and enters as a sizable underdog.
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What is Tabatha Ricci's plan after UFC Oklahoma City?
Ricci's short-term goal is simple: win and stay healthy. "If everything goes well in this fight and I come out without any injuries or anything," she told MMA Fighting, "I'll definitely ask to be the backup for the Gillian vs. Mackenzie fight."
Robertson earned her UFC 330 title shot with five straight wins and meets Dern on Aug. 15. Ricci, the last woman to beat Robertson in the octagon, believes Robertson has a great chance but gives Dern a slight edge on experience, grappling, and confidence.
She also joked that if Robertson wins the belt, a rematch callout "would be great." In a UFC.com interview ahead of Fight Night: Du Plessis vs Usman, Ricci framed herself as next in line in the 115-pound picture.
How does Fatima Kline match up with Ricci stylistically?
Ricci calls Kline "very dangerous on the feet" and expects a striker-versus-grappler fight. She believes her experience against top competition, including Yan, and a well-rounded MMA game give her the edge if she can impose grappling.
"If she can keep the fight standing, that'll be good for her. If I can impose my grappling, I'll win the fight," Ricci said. Action Network lists the bout for about 7:45 p.m. ET at Paycom Center, with Kline a heavy favorite near -470 and Ricci around +360.
Regardless of whether a title shot comes next, Ricci said she wants the victory "so I can return to the position I was in before." First, she has to get past Fatima Kline without damage that would sideline a UFC 330 backup assignment.