Angela Hill vs. Tabatha Ricci: UFC Vegas 96 Main Card Preview and Prediction4 months ago
In the co-main event, Angela Hill faces off against Tabatha Ricci in the women’s strawweight division. Hill, known for her striking and relentless pace, will challenge Ricci, a fighter with a strong grappling background and significant potential.

Angela "Overkill" Hill

Age: 39 (January 12, 1985)

Recent Fights:

- Win against Luana Pinheiro (Submission, Guillotine Choke) – UFC Fight Night 241, May 18, 2024
- Win against Denise Gomes (Decision, Unanimous) – UFC Fight Night 231, Nov 04, 2023
- Loss to Mackenzie Dern (Decision, Unanimous) – UFC Fight Night 223, May 20, 2023
- Win against Emily Ducote (Decision, Unanimous) – UFC on ESPN 42, Dec 03, 2022
- Loss to Virna Jandiroba (Decision, Unanimous) – UFC on ESPN 36, May 14, 2022

Tabatha "Baby Shark" Ricci

Age: 29 (February 21, 1995)

Record: 10-2

Recent Fights:

- Win against Tecia Pennington (Decision, Split) – UFC on ESPN 56, May 11, 2024
- Loss to Lupita Godinez (Decision, Split) – UFC 295, Nov 11, 2023
- Win against Gillian Robertson (Decision, Unanimous) – UFC on ABC 5, Jun 24, 2023
- Win against Jessica Penne (Submission, Armbar) – UFC 285, Mar 04, 2023
- Loss to Manon Fiorot (TKO, Punches) – UFC Fight Night 189, Jun 05, 2021

Fight Analysis

Angela Hill is known for her striking prowess and volume-based approach. With a wealth of experience, Hill excels in controlling the pace and using her striking to accumulate points over the course of three rounds. Her significant striking volume and defensive skills have kept her competitive at the highest levels, though her inability to secure finishes through KO/TKO is notable. Hill’s ground game is less developed compared to her striking, which sometimes leads to vulnerabilities against well-rounded opponents.

Tabatha Ricci is a skilled grappler with a strong background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Her primary strength lies in her submission game and grappling control. Ricci has shown resilience and adaptability, with a mix of wins by decision and submission. However, her striking game is less developed, and she often relies on getting the fight to the ground to secure victories. Her recent performances have highlighted her ability to adapt and grind out wins, though her tendency to struggle against higher-caliber strikers is evident.

Prediction

Angela Hill’s extensive experience and striking volume give her a clear advantage in this matchup. While Ricci’s grappling and submission skills are strong, Hill’s ability to control the pace and land significant strikes should allow her to win on points if she can avoid being taken down and controlled.

Angela Hill wins via Decision. Hill’s striking and volume will likely give her the edge over Ricci’s grappling, particularly if she can manage to keep the fight standing and avoid Ricci’s submission attempts.