Tabatha Ricci is using her quick turnaround at UFC Oklahoma City as a chance to push back into the strawweight conversation.
Ricci faces Fatima Kline at UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman on July 18 at Paycom Center, and she explained the short-notice opportunity in the promotion’s fight-week clip titled “I Am Next In Line.”
“I just want to get active. I want to be in the spotlight and I want to get my position back again,” Ricci said.
“I want to challenge myself,” Ricci said.
“I just want to fight. I have the fire,” Ricci said.
“I want to show that I improve, that I fix my mistakes,” Ricci said.
“You got to challenge yourself. You got to risk. It’s the only way to improve and learn from those fights,” Ricci said.
In deep waters 🦈 @TabathaRicci#UFCOKC LIVE JULY 18 at 8pmET on @ParamountPlus! pic.twitter.com/919YVJZObj
— UFC (@ufc) July 14, 2026
Why The Kline Fight Matters
Ricci enters the matchup after her stoppage win over Amanda Ribas, which gave her a result to build on instead of another close decision. Kline brings a different kind of risk because she is younger, active, and can take Ricci’s momentum with one clean performance.
The timing also matters at strawweight. Zhang Weili is away from the title picture for now, Mackenzie Dern and Gillian Robertson are already booked for a belt, and Ricci is trying to make sure her name stays attached to the next ranked opening.
