The UFC will host its penultimate PPV event on November 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Two of the promotion’s most ferocious strikers, Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka, will face off in a thrilling main event. In the co-feature of UFC 295, top heavyweight contenders Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich will vie for the interim title. Other than the two title fights, the other fights on the card are no less exciting.
In the prelims, the bout between Lupita Godinez and Tabatha Ricci promises an amazing clash between two highly skilled strawweight prospects. Both fighters have secured impressive victories within the organization and are currently enjoying winning streaks.
A showdown of rising strawweight stars goes down on this Saturday’s #UFC295 prelims as #10 🇧🇷 Tabatha Ricci faces off against #13 🇲🇽 Loopy Godinez.
With a chance to climb higher in the rankings, who’s your pick to take a step closer to the top of the division? 🥊🌟 #WMMA #UFC pic.twitter.com/j85xuPqJTY
— Women’s MMA Rankings (@WMMARankings) November 5, 2023
Tabatha Ricci has a remarkable MMA record, having just lost one fight in her entire career, consisting of 10 professional bouts to date. She last defeated Gillian Robertson in June 2023 by a unanimous decision. Before that, she pulled off a submission victory against Jessica Penne at UFC 285.
Her opponent, Godinez, will also be riding high on confidence, as she is on a three-win streak in the UFC. In her last fight, which happened in September 2023, she defeated Elise Reed by submission. Prior to this, she fought and defeated Emily Ducote by unanimous decision.
Tabatha Ricci vs Lupita Godinez stats
Stats | Tabatha Ricci | Lupita Godinez |
---|---|---|
Wins | 9 | 11 |
Losses | 1 | 3 |
Height |
5 ft 1 in
|
5 ft 2 in |
Division | Strawweight | Strawweight |
Reach |
61″
|
61″
|
Age | 28 | 30 |
UFC 295: Tabatha Ricci vs Lupita Godinez prediction
The matchup between Lupita Godinez and Tabatha Ricci is for sure, difficult to predict. Both of them are top contenders in the division and have outclassed their opponents in their last few fights. Godinez’s formidable attributes lie in her endurance and grappling prowess, yet ‘Baby Shark’ aims to unravel that challenge this upcoming weekend.
It is likely that Ricci would adopt a strategy of maintaining distance and staying vigilant against her opponent’s wrestling. Over time, she plans to fatigue Godinez with her agile footwork and precise striking, which might secure a decision victory.
However, fans must note that Godinez boasts a considerable advantage in striking power, and her wrestling obviously gives her an added advantage. While Ricci has delivered surprises in the past, Godinez’s versatility and sheer strength are likely to propel her toward a closely contested decision victory.
Our prediction: Lupita Godinez wins by unanimous decision.