LAS VEGAS – Angela Hill thinks Amanda Ribas’ striking skills have been exposed, and she plans on taking advantage this weekend.
Hill (13-9 MMA, 8-9 UFC) faces Ribas (10-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) in the main card opener of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 24 card, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
Ribas is on the heels of her first promotional loss, where she was knocked out by Marina Rodriguez at UFC 257 in January. Her only other career loss also came by knockout, and Hill thinks that’s remained a vulnerability for Ribas, even after she defeated Mackenzie Dern in October 2019.
“I think her striking was a little overrated after the Mackenzie Dern fight,” Hill told MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s media day at the UFC Apex. “Like she pretty much pieced her up like a boxing bag, so I think if anything, Marina exposed that she isn’t as good of a striker as she is as a grappler, as a judoka, and that’s definitely the place where I win the fight, I feel. On the feet, keeping her rushing in for takedowns, avoiding the takedowns or being able to get up as fast as possible.
“Keep it on the feet where she’s going to be uncomfortable and where she might even get desperate. So it was a good gameplan for Marina. She kind of put out the blueprint there, and I think anyone who knows how to strike everywhere, strike moving forward, strike moving backwards, sideways, I think they’re gonna give Ribas a lot of trouble going forward.”
Hill has won four of her past six, with her two losses to Claudia Gadelha and Saturday’s headliner Michelle Waterson coming via split decision. Now she plans on making it two straight victories with a win over Ribas and would love the opportunity to avenge some of her recent losses.
“I got my list of rematches,” Hill said. “If anything, having a bunch of losses on your record makes you want to fight them again, especially when you feel like you’ve improved so much. A lot of those girls are in the top five, so I’d love to fight them. I’d love to just get on the way to a title fight, and I feel like if those last two losses had gone my way, I’d definitely be somebody that they’re talking about.”
She continued, “I feel like a couple good wins – I felt like the Yoder win was good even though I messed up, I didn’t get the finish, I could have in that fight, but a few more adjustments I have to make, and with a big win over Ribas, it’ll definitely give me the options of fighting higher-ranked girls, and I’m excited about that.”
To see the full interview with Hill, check out the video above.
Angela Hill plans on giving Amanda Ribas trouble on the feet: Her striking was ‘overrated’