Virna Jandiroba vs Tabatha Ricci Predictions, Betting Tips and H2H 04/04/2026

Virna Jandiroba vs Tabatha Ricci Preview

Virna Jandiroba and Tabatha Ricci meet in an intriguing strawweight clash on April 4th in a fight that could have major title implications. Vandiroba is coming off a loss against Mackenzie Dern, losing the chance to claim the strawweight belt. However, many felt the decision should have gone her way.

Ricci, on the other hand, entered after knocking out top contender Amanda Ribas last summer. Can she make it back-to-back wins and stake her claim for a shot at the title, or will Vandiroba be looking at a chance for revenge with a victory at UFC Fight Night 272?

Virna Jandiroba vs Tabatha Ricci Predictions

Fight prediction: Jandiroba via decision

One of our best MMA predictions is for Virna Jandiroba to defeat Tabatha Ricci on Saturday night. This is a very tight clash on paper, with both women near inseparable in the betting markets. However, Jandiroba comes in on the back of an impressive performance, even though she lost to Mackenzie Dern. Many have argued she should have won on the scorecards. Tabatha Ricci is a good fighter, but she is not powerful enough to finish Jandiroba, nor is she tricky enough on the ground to submit her. 

Carcara will dictate the tempo of this fight. Her grappling is among the best in the division. She will look to close the distance early, secure takedowns, and control position on the mat. Once there, Jandiroba is extremely difficult to deal with, constantly advancing and threatening submissions. Even if she does not find a finish, her control time and activity should score highly with the judges. Over three rounds, that ability to impose her game plan and limit Ricci’s opportunities should be enough to edge a competitive but controlled victory.

Her grappling defence is also excellent. It is very telling that Dern could not find a way to finish her. The strawweight champion is considered one of the best grapplers in the division, but Jandiroba always had an answer for her on the ground. That resilience and composure will be key against Ricci, who also relies heavily on her grappling to control fights. If Jandiroba can neutralise those strengths, she will take away one of Ricci’s main paths to victory.

However, that is a big ‘if’. Ricci is a physically strong grappler who can take advantage of top position. If she can reverse positions or land takedowns of her own, she could have success controlling periods of the fight. Ricci is very effective when she gets on top. She uses her strength to maintain control and land ground-and-pound, which could make rounds close on the scorecards.

That said, Jandiroba’s experience and overall grappling IQ should help her navigate those situations. She is comfortable working off her back if needed and rarely panics under pressure. Over the course of three rounds, her ability to consistently threaten submissions, scramble effectively, and regain dominant positions should allow her to edge the key exchanges. In what is expected to be a closely fought contest, Jandiroba’s control, composure, and technical edge should be enough to secure a decision victory.

Ricci’s turn to a more strike-heavy fight plan in recent fights could also harm her here. Her knockout victory over Amanda Ribas was very misleading. Her striking was poor, and her defence even poorer up to that point. Those short, sharp strikes in the clinch will always be there, but Jandiroba will control those moments a lot better than Ribas was able to. She is far more composed in tight exchanges and far less likely to leave openings that Ricci can exploit.

Ultimately, this looks like a fight that will be decided by control, positioning, and composure rather than damage. Jandiroba has the tools to dictate where the fight takes place. She also has the patience to stick to her game plan across all three rounds. Ricci will have moments, but over the course of the contest, Jandiroba’s superior grappling, experience, and consistency should shine through. Expect a competitive bout, but one where Jandiroba does enough in each round to secure a clear decision victory.

Virna Jandiroba vs Tabatha Ricci Betting Odds

Best Bets for Jandiroba vs Ricci

Virna Jandiroba vs Tabatha Ricci Betting Tips

• Fight Result – Jandiroba to win: These fighters are barely separated on our online betting site. However, Jandiroba is a slight favourite at 4/5, and we are taking her here. Her grappling control and experience at this level give her a slight but important edge. Over three rounds, she is more likely to dictate where the fight takes place and accumulate points with the judges. In a matchup with very fine margins, backing Jandiroba to get her hand raised looks like the smart play.

• Method of Victory – Jandiroba via decision: This fight will not be a striking clinic, nor will it be a free-flowing BJJ classic. Instead, we expect more of a measured chess match where both fighters are battling to control the tempo, distance, and ground control. Jandiroba should win that. Her ability to secure takedowns and maintain top position will be key in racking up control time across the rounds. Ricci is tough and durable, which makes a finish unlikely, but that plays into a decision outcome. Betting on Jandiroba to win via decision looks like the smartest angle, as she methodically does enough to win each round on the scorecards.

• Takedowns – Jandiroba 3+ takedowns: Ricci’s game plan will probably be to pressure Jandiroba and push her towards the cage. Jandiroba will counter that by keeping her on the ground. Her timing on entries and ability to chain wrestling attempts make her very effective at securing multiple takedowns across a fight. Over three rounds, she should have enough opportunities to hit this number in the MMA betting, especially if she is consistently dictating where the fight takes place.

Virna Jandiroba vs Tabatha Ricci Head-to-Head and Key Stats

Both fighters enter this bout in similar form, winning five and losing two of their previous seven. They share several opponents in common with mixed results. For example, Ricci lost to Yan Xiaonan while Jandiroba beat her. On the other hand, Jandiroba lost to Amanda Ribas while Ricci defeated her last July.

Jandiroba Recent Form and Key Stats

Jandiroba is one of the most accomplished grapplers in the strawweight division, with a professional record of 22-4. Her MMA record is built on submission success, with 14 wins coming via submission, alongside 7 decision victories and 1 knockout. That distribution highlights exactly where her strengths lie. She is a control-based grappler who thrives on the ground, constantly advancing position and looking for finishes or dominant rounds.

In terms of recent form, Jandiroba has been very consistent. She picked up a strong submission win over Amanda Lemos, and decision victories against Loopy Godinez, Marina Rodriguez, and Angela Hill. Her most recent outing was a decision loss to Mackenzie Dern. However, it was an extremely competitive fight that many felt could have gone her way. Across these performances, she has shown excellent durability, composure, and control against high-level opposition. Her ability to dictate where the fight takes place and neutralise other grapplers makes her one of the most reliable technicians in the division.

Tabatha Ricci Recent Form and Key Stats

Ricci comes into this fight with a professional record of 12-3. She is continuing to establish herself as a well-rounded and physically strong contender in the strawweight division. Her wins are more evenly spread than Jandiroba’s, with 2 knockouts, 3 submissions, and 7 decision victories. This shows a balanced skillset, though much of her success still comes from control, pressure, and positional strength rather than finishing ability.

Looking at her recent form, Ricci has alternated between wins and losses against solid competition. She secured decision victories over Tecia Pennington and Angela Hill, but suffered a loss to Yan Xiaonan. Most recently, she recorded a TKO win over Amanda Ribas. That stands out as the only stoppage victory in her recent run. While that result shows she can finish fights, her overall profile suggests she is more comfortable grinding out decisions through control and physicality. Ricci’s strength in clinch situations and in top position makes her competitive in grappling exchanges, but she has shown vulnerability against technically sharper opponents.

Overall, this has the makings of a good fight, although there could be long periods with both fighters on the mat. The entire Moicano vs Duncan UFC Fight Night will be available to watch on TNT Sports, in case you did not know where to watch UFC in Ireland. Why not look at placing a wager on the main event at Novibet?