Amanda Ribas was knocked out by Tabatha Ricci, leading to the discovery that a dislocated metal plate from a previous injury was causing her severe health issues, and she is set for surgery in Sao Paulo.
Amanda Ribas faced a tough weekend in Abu Dhabi, getting knocked out by Tabatha Ricci. Her team? They’re seeing it as a twist of fate.
In round two, Ricci landed an elbow that dislocated a metal plate in Ribas’ face. This plate was put in after a 2023 loss to Maycee Barber. Surgery’s on the horizon—Saturday in Sao Paulo.
Marcelo Ribas, her dad and coach, shared that Amanda’s been battling health issues since her November 2023 fight against Luana Pinheiro. That victory came just months after her loss to Barber and the subsequent surgery.
“The plate got dislocated in the Pinheiro fight,” Marcelo explained. “Amanda’s been fainting, in pain, and even having seizures since then. Training was nearly impossible.”
They ran a bunch of tests, including a brain MRI, but nothing pointed to the plate. Amanda fought three more times, losing to Rose Namajunas, Mackenzie Dern, and now Ricci.
“[Amanda] thought it was a psychological issue,” Marcelo said. “If not for the elbow, we might never have known. It’s divine intervention. Thank God we found the cause of her symptoms.”
This week, Amanda’s undergoing exams at Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, with Dr. Sergio Miranda planning the surgery. Right now, the focus is on recovery, not rushing back to training.
“She’s pain-free now,” Marcelo noted. “She endured the worst pain imaginable on the trigeminal nerve. Thankfully, that’s behind her.”