Amanda Ribas has withdrawn from her scheduled bout at UFC OKC on July 18th, and Tabatha Ricci has stepped in to face Fatima Kline. The strawweight matchup remains on the card for the Oklahoma City event.
A late change has shaken up the UFC OKC card scheduled for July 18th, with Amanda Ribas pulling out of her strawweight bout against Fatima Kline. Tabatha Ricci has stepped in on short notice to keep the matchup intact for the Oklahoma City event.
Ribas, ranked seventh in the women's strawweight division, now sits on the sideline after the withdrawal. The 32-year-old Brazilian carries a 13-7 record and has built a reputation as an active, well-rounded competitor. She averages 4.26 significant strikes per minute and mixes in a consistent wrestling attack at 2.05 takedowns per 15 minutes, also logging 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes to round out her grappling game.
Stepping in to replace her is Ricci, ranked tenth at strawweight and known by her nickname "Baby Shark." The 31-year-old Brazilian from Brazilian Thai holds a 12-4 record and is one of the more active grapplers in the division, averaging 2.51 takedowns per 15 minutes. She lands 4.0 significant strikes per minute as well, making her a threat in both phases. At five-foot-one with a 61-inch reach, she will give up notable size against her opponent.
Kline, the 25-year-old American nicknamed "The Archangel," enters with an impressive 9-1 record out of MK Muay Thai. She lands 3.94 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy, the highest striking accuracy figure among the three fighters involved in this story. Standing five-foot-six with a 67-inch reach, Kline holds a significant physical advantage over Ricci.
Why it matters
- Ricci is ranked tenth and Kline is unranked, meaning a Kline victory could push her directly into the divisional rankings
- Ricci's elite takedown volume against Kline's striking-based game sets up a clear styles clash
- The result could affect the logjam in the lower half of the strawweight top ten
