Virna Jandiroba dominates Tabatha Ricci in UFC Vegas co‑main event. On April 4, 2026, at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, the co-main event brought a different kind of heat as Virna Jandiroba and Tabatha Ricci went head-to-head in a battle of skill, grit, and pure technique. It wasn’t just a fight, it was a chess match under pressure, where every move mattered.
Heading into their clash on April 4, 2026, at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, both Virna Jandiroba and Tabatha Ricci brought strong but slightly different momentum into the co-main event. Virna Jandiroba is one of the most respected grapplers in the division, she entered the bout with a record of 22-4-0 and a resume built on consistency and control. In her recent outings, she reminded fans why she remains a serious threat. She secured a unanimous decision victory over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314.. Before that, she delivered a statement performance with a submission win over Amanda Lemos in July 2024, once again showcasing her elite ground game.
She also added a decision win against Lupita Godinez in March 2024, further strengthening her position among the top contenders.However, momentum can shift quickly in MMA. In her most recent appearance, Jandiroba suffered a unanimous decision loss to Mackenzie Dern in October 2025. It was a competitive fight, but the setback halted her run and forced her to regroup heading into this matchup.
On the other side stood Tabatha Ricci, who entered the fight with a record of 12-3-0, steadily building her reputation in the division. Ricci entered the fight with growing confidence, especially after a second-round TKO victory over Amanda Ribas in July 2025. Earlier, she faced adversity in a unanimous decision loss to Yan Xiaonan, but rather than slowing her down, the defeat seemed to sharpen her approach. She returned more composed, more dangerous, and more complete, blending her grappling foundation with increasingly effective stand-up. Coming into this fight, the contrast was clear. Jandiroba carried the experience, proven against top competition and known for her control on the ground. Ricci, meanwhile, brought momentum, confidence, and the hunger of a fighter looking to break into the elite level.
The fight opened with both fighters testing each other’s range. Ricci landed a few light strikes early, but Jandiroba stayed composed and pressed forward. She quickly changed levels and secured a takedown, forcing the action to the mat. Ricci worked to get back to her feet, but Jandiroba kept the pressure on, controlling position and landing short ground strikes.
Ricci came out looking to keep the fight standing, throwing a few more strikes, but Jandiroba’s wrestling remained the focus. Early in the round, she got another takedown and stayed active on top. Ricci defended from her guard and tried to make things uncomfortable with elbows, but Jandiroba maintained top control and stayed busy with ground strikes and positional adjustments. By the end of the round, it was clear Jandiroba’s grappling dictated tempo and control.
The final round saw Ricci attempt to push back, mixing in combinations and trying to create openings on the feet, but Jandiroba answered with pressure and timing. She again achieved a takedown, forced Ricci back to the canvas, and dominated from upper position. Even when Ricci briefly worked back to her feet, Jandiroba stayed close, kept the pressure on, and landed clean shots. Ultimately, her consistent grappling control and aggression secured her the round.
“I think it’s a great fight and a big name,” Ricci told MMA Fighting. “Virna just fought for the belt, and I think fighting her will prove a lot for me, for everyone, for all the fans watching, that I truly belong at the top and that I can be next in line for a title shot. Especially with Virna coming off a loss, I think she’ll be very well-trained, very focused, and I think it’s going to be a really good fight.”
“I don’t know if Weili will stay [at flyweight] or what she’s deciding,” Ricci said. “Everyone is waiting on her decision, but I believe that once Virna fights and once Loopy and Tatiana fight, we’ll have a clearer idea of who will be next. … I think it will depend a lot on my performance and how the fight goes, because there are a lot of great fighters in the rankings. There will be plenty of new contenders ready to fight for the belt. Since I’m fighting Virna, who just challenged for the title, I think it puts me in a favorable position, but it will really depend on how our fight goes.”
“I would love to fight Weili as well, to face the best in the world,” she continued. “She has dominated our division, so it would be an honor to compete for the belt against her too. If she moves down, in theory she would have to fight Mackenzie, so that would be a very interesting fight. I think Weili is a slightly more complete athlete, but it all depends on where each fighter is in their life and career at the moment, so it’s quite complex.”
Ricci has to get through Jandiroba first, and “Baby Shark” plays coy on whether or not she will put her grappling to test against a fellow jiu-jitsu specialist. “I come from jiu-jitsu as well, I have a long history in jiu-jitsu, just like Virna, so I’ll be ready if she wants to take it there,” Ricci said. “I’ll be prepared. It won’t be anything new for me in that area. Usually when they match two grapplers the fight ends up staying on the feet a bit more, but I don’t know how it’s going to play out. Maybe I’ve evolved, maybe Virna has too. Maybe she watched my last fight against Mackenzie and it could turn into a ground battle. I’ll be ready for the jiu-jitsu. I also think she’s improved her striking, and I believe this matchup will be a very interesting contest.”
“I can’t give all the details of my strategy here [laughs] but I do think I have a bit of an advantage in the striking,” she added. “But it’s MMA, so you have to be ready for everything. Everyone wants to finish the fight quickly, but you can’t force anything in the moment. I hope I can finish the fight as soon as possible, but it all depends on how it plays out. It’s going to be a very smart game.”
Check out UFC Vegas 115 results below.
Main Card
Renato Moicano def. Chris Duncan via sub (RNC) (R2, 3:14) (live blog) | Recap | Pros react
Virna Jandiroba def. Tabatha Ricci via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Brendson Ribeiro via sub (RNC) (R1, 2:52)
Ethyn Ewing def. Rafael Estevam via third-round TKO (1:44) | Watch finish
Tommy McMillen def. Manolo Zecchini via TKO (R1, 3:57) | Watch finish
Jose Delano def. Robert Ruchala via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27 x2)
Preliminary Card
Thomas Petersen def. Guilherme Pat via majority decision (28-28, 29-27 x2)
Alessandro Costa def. Stewart Nicoll via second-round TKO (4:57)
Darrius Flowers def. Lando Vannata via second-round TKO (0:52)
Alice Pereira def. Hailey Cowan via second-round KO (4:24)
Tresean Gore def. Azamat Bekoev via submission (guillotine) (R3, 3:27)
Dione Barbosa def. Melissa Gatto via majority decision (29-27 x2, 28-28) | ‘She faked passing out’
Kai Kamaka III def. Dakota Hope via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
