Next weekend’s UFC Macau will mark the UFC’s return to Asia, and the main event seems to be key for the bantamweight division, as Deiveson Figueiredo and Petr Yan will face each other in a fight where the winner will land closer to a title shot. However, the fight card promises another exciting fight for the fans. On the UFC Macau Main Card, former title challenger Yan Xiaonan will fight ninth-ranked Tabatha Ricci for the first time.

The Chinese fighter is ranked sixth in the strawweight division and has not stepped into the Octagon since her unanimous decision loss to her compatriot, champion Weili Zhang, at UFC 300. Ricci is coming off her sixth victory in the Octagon after beating Angela Hill in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 96. The two are truly capable fighters, and this matchup surely left everyone guessing who might emerge victorious. So fret not, as in this article, we’ll find out through statistics what the matchup looks like and who might come out as the winner.

Comparing Yan Xiaonan and Tabatha Ricci’s head-to-head record

Yan Xiaonan has been on a notable run for a while. With a record of 18 wins and 4 losses, she decimated opponents like Mackenzie Dern and Jessica Andrade. However, ‘Nine’ failed to claim the strawweight throne as Zhang Weili finished Xionan’s hope with a decision loss. But that doesn’t mean that the Chinese fighter won’t get back up. Known for her fierce striking, she stands out by landing just under five strikes per minute, taking advantage of her 63.0″ (160 cm) reach.

On the other hand, ‘Baby Shark’ comes into the fight with a record of 11 wins and 2 losses. With her recent victory over Angela Hill via unanimous decision, she is now on a two-fight winning streak, winning three out of her last four fights in the promotion. She has a slight disadvantage in terms of reach, with her being 61.0″ (155 cm), and absorbs more strikes per minute compared to ‘Nine’. But with a strong background in jiu-jitsu, Tabatha Ricci should be able to handle Xiaonan if she can take the fight to the ground.

Xiaonan vs. Ricci: Who has more finishes?

If we compare Yan Xiaonan and Tabatha Ricci’s finishing records, the Chinese fighter emerges as the better of the two. Relying on her striking skills, Xiaonan boasts nine finishes in her professional MMA career. Out of the 9 wins, 8 victories came via KO/TKO, while the remaining one came via submission. So if ‘Baby Shark’ wishes to win this fight, she would plan to take the fight to a decision.

Ricci relies on her BJJ skills, and as a result, she has only 4 finishes in her MMA career so far. But it is her wrestling that actually makes her a threat against Xionan. ‘Baby Shark’ has recorded victories by submission while also managing to grab a KO/TKO win. So while this difference in finishing could play a role in their upcoming fight, we have seen fighters like Merab Dvalishvili annihilate strikers like Sean O’Malley in the Octagon. But what do you think? Who will win the fight? Let us know in the comments.