A pivotal strawweight affair between Amanda Ribas and Angela Hill goes down this Saturday on ESPN+.
While the UFC Vegas 26 card has undergone many changes, there are still plenty of fights to look out for. In particular, the pressure behind this strawweight fight is palpable. Mostly because the two are right at the forefront for a top-five ranking in the division. Despite the card struggling to get a headliner and co-main event due to T.J. Dillashaw being injured, the promotion is attempting to fill the voids the best they can as we enter fight week. Additionally, Donald Cerrone will face short-notice replacement Alex Morono, after his original foe TUF 1 winner Diego Sanchez was released from the UFC following a tumultuous departure involving his unorthodox coach Joshua Fabia.
Amanda Ribas vs. Angela Hill Preview
Prior to the matchup, Ribas was paired with fellow top prospect Marina Rodriguez but lost the fight due to strikes in the second round. On the other hand, Hill enters the UFC Vegas 26 fight with more momentum, as the mobile kickboxer won her last fight when she beat Ashley Yoder in an important rematch earlier this year. Even though it seems Hill endures a speed bump each time she takes a step up in competition, this fight will certainly illuminate the potential of whoever ends up coming out on top.
Before Ribas lost to Rodriguez, the 27-year-old Brazilian was riding high in the UFC. Ribas had collected four wins in a row, and some of them definitely got fans excited about Ribas being a potential future title challenger. Ultimately, that notion still holds true, with wins over solid competition like Mackenzie Dern, Randa Markos, and Paige VanZant, it’s hard to argue that another prospect has started off any stronger in the UFC.
Amanda Ribas vs. Angela Hill – By The Numbers
Amanda Ribas Career Statistics (Courtesy of ESPN)
- SLpM: 4.25
- Str. Acc.: 44%
- SApM: 1.78
- Str. Def: 71%
- TD Avg.: 2.31
- TD Acc.: 58%
- TD Def.: 85%
- Sub. Avg.: 1.6
Amanda Ribas – Tale of the Tape
- HEIGHT: 5′ 3″
- WEIGHT: 125 lbs.
- REACH: 66″
- STANCE: Orthodox
- DOB: Aug 26, 1993
Angela Hill Career Statistics (Courtesy of ESPN)
- SLpM: 5.66
- Str. Acc.: 50%
- SApM: 4.98
- Str. Def: 64%
- TD Avg.: 0.45
- TD Acc.: 36%
- TD Def.: 76%
- Sub. Avg.: 0.1
Angela Hill- Tale of the Tape
- HEIGHT: 5′ 3″
- WEIGHT: 115 lbs.
- REACH: 64″
- STANCE: Orthodox
- DOB: Jan 12, 1985
With opposing styles it will be intriguing to see if the takedown accuracy and ground efficacy translates well against Hill. Since Hill’s standup is so polished, perhaps it will serve Ribas the best to take the fight to the mat eventually. However, as noted above, Hill’s takedown defense is downright stellar, so in order to make it a ground fight, Ribas will have to marry her takedown offense with her striking abilities.
In addition, the story of the fight may be dictated by Hill’s strikes absorbed per minute. The 36-year old nearly triples the Brazilian in strikes absorbed. Granted, Hill has a larger sample size given all of the fights she’s had in the UFC, it is definitely a factor that should be considered when trying to choose your horse in the race this Saturday.
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