Amanda Ribas: Story of the UFC star you should know

Amanda Ribas is an MMA fighter from Varginha, Brazil, who has made her mark in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Competing in both the flyweight and strawweight divisions, Ribas has showcased her talent and determination inside the octagon.

Following the footsteps of her father

Born on August 26, 1993, Ribas comes from a family deeply involved in martial arts. Her father, Marcelo Ribas, is a judo and jiu-jitsu coach who also teaches Muay Thai. Growing up, Ribas trained under her father's guidance until she joined one of Brazil's national judo youth teams. Unfortunately, knee injuries interrupted her training and competition for several years. However, her passion reignited after witnessing her colleagues preparing for an MMA tournament.

Competing at the IMMAF Stage

Ribas began her professional MMA career in 2014 after achieving victory in the 2014 IMMAF World Championship in the Women's Flyweight division. Initially, she fought primarily in Brazil, amassing an impressive record of 6-1 before being signed by the UFC.

UFC debut and fights that followed

In her much-anticipated UFC debut, Ribas faced Emily Whitmire on June 29, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 3. She secured a victory in the second round with a rear-naked choke submission, setting the stage for her success in the promotion.

On October 12, 2019, Ribas faced Mackenzie Dern at UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson. Displaying her skills and resilience, she won the bout via unanimous decision, further solidifying her position in the UFC.

Ribas was slated to face Paige VanZant on March 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira. However, VanZant withdrew from the fight due to a fractured arm, and Randa Markos stepped in as her replacement. Ribas secured another unanimous decision victory, showcasing her dominant performance.

The rescheduled bout with VanZant finally took place at UFC 251 on July 12, 2020. Ribas impressed once again, finishing the fight with a submission win in the first round.

The journey in the UFC

While originally scheduled to face Carla Esparza at UFC 256 on December 12, 2020, the bout did not materialize due to undisclosed reasons. Ribas was then set to fight Michelle Waterson on January 24, 2021, at UFC 257. Unfortunately, Waterson withdrew from the event, and Marina Rodriguez stepped in as a replacement. Ribas faced a tough challenge and lost the fight via technical knockout in the second round.

Ribas was later expected to face Angela Hill on May 8, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 24. However, she was removed from the bout due to COVID-19 protocols on the day of the event, resulting in its cancellation. The fight was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 189 on June 5, 2021. Unfortunately, it was cancelled once again due to Ribas experiencing lingering COVID-19 symptoms.

Returning to the octagon, Ribas faced Virna Jandiroba on October 30, 2021, at UFC 267. She showcased her skills and emerged victorious with a unanimous decision win.

Ribas was then set to face Michelle Waterson on March 26, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 205. However, the bout was postponed to UFC 274 on May 7, 2022, due to Waterson's undisclosed injury. Eventually, Waterson was ruled out of the fight, leading to its cancellation.

On May 14, 2022, Ribas faced Katlyn Chookagian at UFC on ESPN 36. Although she fought valiantly, Ribas suffered a close split decision loss. Nevertheless, the bout earned her the well-deserved Fight of the Night bonus.

Ribas was scheduled to face Tracy Cortez on December 3, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 42. Unfortunately, the bout was cancelled after Cortez withdrew due to an undisclosed medical issue.

Undeterred, Ribas faced Viviane Araújo on March 4, 2023, at UFC 285. Demonstrating her skills and resilience, she secured a unanimous decision victory, adding another triumph to her record.

Most recently, Ribas faced Maycee Barber on June 24, 2023, at UFC on ABC 5. While it was a hard-fought battle, Ribas succumbed to a technical knockout in the second round.

With her impressive career and continued determination, Amanda Ribas remains a force to be reckoned with in both the UFC flyweight and strawweight divisions.

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