After a hard-fought decision loss to Mackenzie Dern in their championship rematch at UFC 321, Virna Jandiroba remains one of the most dangerous submission specialists and consistent top contenders in the women’s strawweight division. With wins over Yan Xiaonan, Amanda Lemos, Marina Rodriguez, Loopy Godinez, and Angela Hill, Jandiroba has shown an ability to compete with and defeat multiple ranked opponents. For her next step, a high-impact matchup is needed that keeps her in the mix for another title shot.
A fight against Tabatha Ricci is the right move. Ricci, ranked No. 8, is a surging contender who recently stopped Amanda Ribas by TKO and owns wins over Angela Hill, Tecia Pennington, and Jessica Penne. Ricci brings a strong judo base, technical grappling, and improving striking, offering a fresh clash of styles for Jandiroba and giving both fighters a clear opportunity to re-enter the title conversation. For Jandiroba, a win would reaffirm her status as the division’s elite grappler, while for Ricci, this bout is a chance to leap into the title picture.
Stylistically, this is a classic grappler-versus-grappler contest with evolving striking elements. Jandiroba’s high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission game meet Ricci’s powerful judo, positional control, and compact boxing. Expect a technical ground battle with transitions, scrambles, and chain grappling sequences that could easily go the distance but provide plenty of excitement for fans of elite-level technique.
Last Five Fights – Virna Jandiroba:
1. Loss to Mackenzie Dern – Decision (unanimous), UFC 321 (October 25, 2025)
2. Win over Yan Xiaonan – Decision (unanimous), UFC 314 (April 12, 2025)
3. Win over Amanda Lemos – Submission (armbar), UFC on ESPN 60 (July 20, 2024)
4. Win over Loopy Godinez – Decision (unanimous), UFC on ESPN 54 (March 30, 2024)
5. Win over Marina Rodriguez – Decision (unanimous), UFC 288 (May 6, 2023)
Last Five Fights – Tabatha Ricci:
1. Win over Amanda Ribas – TKO (elbow and punches), UFC on ABC 9 (July 26, 2025)
2. Loss to Yan Xiaonan – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night 248 (November 23, 2024)
3. Win over Angela Hill – Decision (unanimous), UFC on ESPN 62 (August 24, 2024)
4. Win over Tecia Pennington – Decision (split), UFC on ESPN 56 (May 11, 2024)
5. Loss to Loopy Godinez – Decision (split), UFC 295 (November 11, 2023)
This matchup between Virna Jandiroba and Tabatha Ricci is a stylistic showdown of elite BJJ versus world-class judo, carrying both divisional relevance and strong title implications.