LAS VEGAS – Tabatha Ricci keeps winning, and her success boils down to one word: discipline.
After her UFC on ESPN 62 co-main event victory, Ricci (11-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) explained that hard work and a healthy lifestyle, as cliche as it sounds, are what separates her from the rest of the pack.
“Discipline. There is no secret juice,” Ricci said with a laugh during a post-fight news conference with reporters, including MMA Junkie. “There is nothing. There is no secret lifestyle. Full week Sunday to Sunday is how the way you take your life. What you eat, how you sleep, who you walk with, just stay disciplined.”
Ricci defeated strawweight staple Angela Hill (17-14 MMA, 12-14 UFC) by unanimous decision at the UFC Apex as she earned three 29-28 scorecards from the judges. The win could push her into the top 10 of the UFC’s official rankings.
“It feels amazing,” Ricci said. “I worked very hard to be in the top 10. Actually, I was expecting that in my last fight against Tecia, to be up in the rankings. Unfortunately, she was out of the rankings so I didn’t get the shot. Now, fighting Angela, put me in the top 10. It proves to myself that I’m ready for the next level.”
Ricci, 29, is now 2-0 in 2024. Though the momentum is building, Ricci isn’t eager to get back in the cage as soon as possible. The girlfriend of rising boxer (and Dana White project) Callum Walsh, Ricci is planning for the couple to take a trip overseas between fights.
“I’ve been fighting a lot,” Ricci said. “I think this year, I want to take some time for myself and enjoy my family and my friends. Actually, I want to go to Thailand in December with my muay Thai gym and take Callum (Walsh) with me. I want to train some muay Thai there, get more mastered at these strikings and stuff and then come back next year more high level mastering everything and trying to be a more well-rounded fighter.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.
