LAS VEGAS – Tabatha Ricci is eager to solidify her place as a strawweight contender with a win over Virna Jandiroba in the UFC Fight Night 272 co-main event.

Ricci (12-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) will look to secure the biggest victory of her career Saturday at the Meta APEX (Paramount+) when she takes on Jandiroba (22-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC), who is coming off a loss to 115-pound champion Mackenzie Dernin a vacant title fight at UFC 321 in October.

It would be a big statement for Ricci to get her hand raised, and she wants to do it in spectacular fashion.

“Yeah, that’s what I want,” Ricci told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 272 media day. “I’m going to go as vicious as I can, try to give my best performance of the night, and get my challenge for the belt.”

Ricci, No. 9 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie strawweight rankings, admits she would take a back seat to a title shot with a win over No. 3-ranked Jandiroba, only if former champ Zhang Weili returns to the division to challenge Dern.

The 31-year-old, who is coming off a TKO finish of Amanda Ribas in July, likes her position, and is willing to put in the work to leave no doubt she’s deserving of an opportunity at gold.

“Yeah, any fight, any time. Whatever takes me close to my goals, I’ll be willing to do it.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Tabatha Ricci wants Mackenzie Dern title fight with UFC Vegas 115 win