Gillian Robertson has won five in a row to earn a shot at the UFC strawweight title against Mackenzie Dern in the co-main event of UFC 330 on Aug. 15, and the latest woman to defeat her in the Octagon is looking to put her name in the conversation for a shot at gold with a win Saturday at UFC Oklahoma City.
Tabatha Ricci, who won a decision against Robertson in June 2023, is set to fight prospect Fatima Cline on July 18. It’s not an easy task, she said, but it could put her in a good position in the 115-pound weight class.
“If this fight goes well and I come out without any injuries or anything,” Ricci told MMA Fighting, “I will definitely ask to be the backup for the Jillian vs. McKenzie fight.”
Ricci believes Robertson has a “great chance” to win the UFC title in Philadelphia, but gives Dern “a slight edge because of her experience, her wrestling background and probably the confidence that she has now.”
“But Gillian is also a dangerous fighter,” Ricci added. “I don’t know how much she’s improved, but she’s definitely shown a lot of improvement. Jillian is also very aggressive on the ground, and I don’t know if McKenzie has ever faced anyone as aggressive on the mat as she is. Maybe that could surprise her. But McKenzie’s jiu-jitsu is also very good, so it’ll be a really interesting fight. Or maybe they’ll end up keeping him standing the whole time.”
If Robertson can pull off a win and bring the UFC belt back to Canada, Ricci hopes she will decide to try and avenge her latest Octagon loss.
“Maybe if she wins, she’ll challenge me,” Ricci said with a laugh. “That would be great.”
The Brazilian will first have to return to the winning side on July 18 as she tries to bounce back from her April decision loss to Virna Jandiroba. The plan, she says, is to perform and make an impression “so I can put myself in line for the title again.”
“Whether I get the next shot or not,” Ricci said, “I want this win so I can get back to where I was before.”
Ricci considers Kline “very dangerous on her feet” after three straight UFC wins against Victoria Dudakova, Melissa Martinez and Angela Hill, but feels experience and a well-rounded MMA game should give her the edge on Saturday night.
“I think I have a lot more experience than she does,” Ricci said. “I’ve fought some of the best athletes, especially in the striking department. I fought Yan, who I think is one of the best strikers in the division, and that gave me a lot of confidence going into this fight. I’ve fought almost everyone at the top of the rankings, so that gives me a lot of confidence. Of course, she’s a fighter who’s getting a lot of attention, who’s on the rise and who’s had a few wins in the UFC.
“I think it will be a striker versus a grappler,” she continued. “Whoever executes their game plan better will win. Whoever finds the best position and strategy at the beginning of the fight, at the beginning of the round. If she can stay in the fight, that will be good for her. If I can impose my fight, I will win the fight. It will all depend on who can execute their game better.”