UFC Fight Night: Angela Hill vs Tabatha Ricci Odds, Picks & Prediction

Angela Hill vs. Tabatha Ricci is a women’s strawweight fight featured on tonight's UFC Fight Night undercard, and one of our featured events for UFC betting. 

Hill looks to be having the run of her career, and she is set to keep it going against the versatile Ricci.

UFC odds have Ricci slightly favored at -140, with Hill returning at +120. Here are my best free UFC Fight Night: Hill vs. Ricci predictions from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Hill vs Ricci prediction and pick

• My fight prediction
  Hill moneyline (+120 at BET99)
  
  
• My best bet
  Hill by decision (+150 at BET99)

Fight analysis

Though Hill is at an advanced age, she’s put together a string of solid performances in what could be her best run in a long time.

The technical Muay Thai specialist has always been a tough out for the uninitiated, but if she really is catching on to something special, then this is the fight that will signal it. Ricci has been actively improving her skill set, and she’ll need to be on point, as a win here will speak loads of her development.

Hill is a striker all the way, and Ricci is best known for her Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu prowess. What makes this fight hard to handicap is that each fighter’s main strength is their opponent’s weakness.

We’ve seen Hill struggle to get things done against grapplers who can close the distance, get her on the mat and disrupt her timing. Ricci has been improving her striking, but she has fallen short against opponents who neutralize her takedown game and keep the fight standing.

There are a few things that need to be considered. First is that Hill is an easy book for Ricci to read, particularly because all she’ll do is pressure forward and walk her down from the beginning of the fight until the end.

Because Hill sets a high pace and doesn’t have stopping power, she tends to leave herself open in exchanges and that could give Ricci a chance to stand her ground and shoot for takedowns. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ricci loses the first round, and must adjust by trying to take Hill down or wrestle her against the cage.

Ricci has never lost a fight in the UFC when she lands a takedown, and her striking has improved, but not to the point where I feel that she can outwork Hill if she doesn’t get her on the mat. Hill will be in control up until the end and score a win.

Best best analysis

Ricci's prospects for victory wholly rely on her ability to implement her grappling.

Though it is her primary strength, I don't believe she's on the same level as Virna Jandiroba or other mat specialists who have neutralized Hill in the past. I also question whether she truly deserved the decision in her last fight against Tecia Pennington. In 

Hill's recent fights, she's shown flashes of a ground game and is very physically strong, meaning that Ricci isn't guaranteed ground time when the two get close.

Yes, Hill is almost 40 and still won't do well with her back on the canvas if Ricci gets her there, but Hill's intensity and activity will put Ricci on the back foot from bell to bell. My best bet is that Hill wins by decision.

Angela Hill vs Tabatha Ricci odds

Method of Victory	Hill	Ricci
To win outright	+120	-140
To win by KO/TKO	+1,300	+1,300
To win by decision	+150	+115
To win by submission	+1,800	+675
Draw	+2,500	+2,500

Odds as of 8-24.

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Angela Hill vs Tabatha Ricci tale of the tape

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