Sooner or later, [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag] knew she was going to cross paths with [autotag]Tabatha Ricci[/autotag]. As expected, the two were paired to fight on Nov. 11 at UFC 295, which takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Godinez (10-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) knew this day would come, as the pair have rose through the ranks on a similar timeline. From fighting in the regional scene to now being in the UFC’s official strawweight rankings, both Godinez and Ricci (9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) show plenty of promise.
“When she got in the rankings, I figured we were going to fight someday,” Godinez told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “Actually, before I was fighting in the UFC, and I was at LFA, she was also at LFA, so there could’ve even been a possibility where I fought her before the UFC. But anyway, I got in the UFC, then after she joined, and I did think that eventually I was going to fight her.”
[lawrence-related id=2679866,2679677]
The Lobo Gym product is currently on a three-fight wining streak and 5-1 in her past six UFC appearances. She’s coming off a dominant showing against Elise Reed at Noche UFC on Sept. 16, where she got a submission victory along with a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Godinez sees Ricci as a formidable challenge and a great next step for her career. She believes fight fans will be in for a treat.
“She’s very complete,” Godinez said. “She has ground game. She has wrestling and judo. She’s got good hands. I think it’s going to be a cool fight because it’s going to have a little of everything.
“She has her strengths, but so do I with my wrestling and jiu-jitsu. I also did judo and my hands are getting better. We’re going to shine that night.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.