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A flash knockdown in round six didn’t derail Callum Walsh; it helped him zone in. He got up, reset, and still took a unanimous decision win (98–90, 98–90, 97–91) over Carlos Ocampo at Zuffa Boxing 01 in January 2026. That kind of response tells you about composure. But it also hints at something else: a support system that holds steady when fights don’t go perfectly.

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And that’s where Tabatha Ricci enters the picture. The UFC’s #7-ranked strawweight isn’t just a name next to Walsh’s. She’s part of the rhythm around his career and the quieter moments that don’t show up on scorecards. So who is Tabatha Ricci in this equation, and what does their relationship actually look like day to day?

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All about Callum Walsh’s girlfriend, Tabatha Ricci

Born on February 21, 1995, in São Paulo, Brazil, Ricci holds black belts in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Though she made her professional debut in 2013, it wasn’t until 2020, when she signed up with Houston-based promotion Legacy Fighting Alliance, that Ricci gained prominence. However, it was a three-fight deal that ended by April 2021.

In June 2021, she made her debut with the UFC. As a last-minute replacement for Maryna Moroz, Tabatha Ricci’s first fight, however, ended in a knockout loss. But a few months later, she returned and registered a win. The streak continued till 2023, when Loopy Godinez inflicted her second career loss on November 11, 2023. Tabatha Ricci recovered and went on to win the first two bouts scheduled in 2024.

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However, the tables turned when she faced China’s Yan Xiaonan in 2024. The bout in Macau ended in a decision loss for the Brazilian fighter, but she bounced back with a brutal finish of Amanda Ribas in her next bout. 

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Through all the ups and downs of her career, one thing, however, remained constant. It was the love and support of her boyfriend, Callum Walsh.

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Callum Walsh and Tabatha Ricci’s most supportive moments together

Last December, an Instagram post of Walsh helping Ricci during a training warm-up gained considerable traction. 

“@kingcallumwalsh warms up his girlfriend @tabatha.ricci with full right hooks 🤯🤯🤯. Now that’s relationship goals…,” read the ‘jaxxonpodcast‘s caption.

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Later in February, Tabatha Ricci shared an Instagram post, extending birthday wishes to Callum Walsh. The post featured a slew of clips and photos. 

“Together we are stronger,” she wrote. “Happy b-day @kingcallumwalsh 👑🤍.”

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A few weeks later, Walsh reciprocated. Wishing a happy birthday to Ricci, he shared a collage of clips that showed Ricci trying a hand at Irish dance. Last year, in September, when Callum Walsh fought for the first time in his home country, Tabatha Ricci flew down to extend her support. Speaking about her boyfriend, the Brazilian fighter revealed how Walsh entertains a mixed martial arts dream.

“He doesn’t like boxing; he only does it because he’s good,” Ricci told MMA Fighting. “His dream, what he really wants to do, is to fight MMA. He doesn’t even follow boxing that much; he does it because he’s really good at it. He really wants to come to MMA.”

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And if you look at both careers side by side, the timing lines up. Walsh continues to rise in boxing, even after adversity like the Ocampo knockdown. Ricci, meanwhile, keeps building toward contention, with another key fight lined up against Virna Jandiroba at UFC Vegas 115. The real question is how far they can push, individually and together.

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Written by

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Jaideep R Unnithan

3,684 Articles

Jaideep R. Unnithan is a Senior Boxing Writer at EssentiallySports and one of the division’s most trusted voices. Since joining in October 2022, he has brought a deep love for the sport into every story, whether reporting on live bouts with the ES LiveEvent Desk or unpacking the legacy of fighters from different eras as part of the features desk. Trained under EssentiallySports’ prestigious Journalistic Excellence Program, which is a specialized training initiative designed to refine top writers' skills through mentorship and advanced sports journalism techniques, Jaideep’s writing reflects a quiet authority shaped by two years of covering boxing’s flashpoints and fault lines. He is drawn to the warrior code of legends like Alexis Argüello and Marvin Hagler, while also staying attuned to the promise of rising stars like Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez, David Benavidez, and Dmitry Bivol. Jaideep has a special fascination with Naoya Inoue’s old-school grit. Beyond writing, he reads widely, a habit that sharpens his storytelling, whether he’s tracing the rhythm of a classic fight or preparing his next ringside dispatch. Before joining EssentiallySports, Jaideep worked as a client manager and team manager in corporate roles, bringing strong organizational and communication skills to his journalistic career. He has also completed notable certifications, including a Non-Fiction Book Writing Workshop.

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Gokul Pillai

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