Tabatha Ricci aims to finish Angela Hill at UFC on ESPN 62, get spot in top 10 rankings

LAS VEGAS – Tabatha Ricci has her sights set on entering the strawweight top 10.

Ricci (10-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) is slated to compete in her highest spot on a card yet as one-half of the UFC on ESPN 62 co-main event. Standing across from her will be promotion-ranked No. 9 Angela Hill.

Ricci is currently two spots behind, but hopes to leave the UFC Apex with a win over Hill (17-13 MMA, 12-13 UFC), and a single digit number next to her name in the next rankings update.

“A win over Angela will give me a spot in top 10, which I was looking forward (to),” Ricci said at Wednesday’s media day. “So, I’m super excited for that.”

“Baby Shark” enters after a split decision win over Tecia Pennington at UFC on ESPN 56 in May. This time around, she wants to leave the judges out of it, and pick up her second finish in the UFC.

“I really want a finish,” Ricci said. “I’m looking to feel the zone, the confidence, and feeling good, like at home inside of the cage. I’m looking for that and I’m pretty confident. I feel calm and feel very confident. The training camp went pretty smooth. My sparring sessions was perfect, the way I wanted.

“I’m looking for the finish, but it’s going to come when the time is right, so I’m not rushing it. I’m just going to be there and give it all, fight with my heart 100 percent and trust in my team.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.