Lists about fighters who compete in mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Rousey would successfully defend her title six times, have the most armbar finishes, and be the first woman inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. She is the first ever Chinese champion in UFC history. The fight ended in complete shock, with Nunes completely dismantling Cyborg within one round and getting a famous knockout. She tore through the UFC strawweights before being crowned the promotions 1st ever Polish champion (and first female European champion), in 2015. Waterson adjusted well, switching back to her standup game, and that tightened the bout even more. She has won one fight of the Night award against Alexa Grasso. With only six professional bouts under her belt, The Brazilian wonvia split decision. 14 Germaine De Randamie Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports Despite winning the inaugural UFC women's featherweight championship, Germaine De Randamie's career as a champion was underwhelming. Tecia Torreshas been a part of the fighting world since she could remember. 50 Most Attractive and Powerful Female MMA Fighters Of All Time EDMONTON, AB - SEPTEMBER 09: (L-R) Amanda Nunes of Brazil celebrates her victory over Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan in their women's bantamweight bout during the UFC 215 event inside the Rogers Place on September 9, 2017 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Nunes is currently in both women's bantamweight and featherweight divisions, as well as pound-for-pound rankings. Pea is the first woman to win The Ultimate Fighter. Early in the fight, however, it looked as if the unbeaten champion might not enjoy a lengthy reign at the top. Michelle Waterson started training in karate when she was 10 years old and immediately knew this was her future career. "The Tiny Tornado" was nothing short of a dominant performance that the judges unanimously deemed a victory. She is a former world No. The first fighter on our list is Valentina Shevchenko. Before Holly Holm started her UFC career, she was a three-division world boxing champion with a 33-2-3 record. Esparza was an All-American collegiate wrestler and began training in BJJ her junior year. Aggressiveness. She holds Octagon wins over; Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Valentina Shevchenko, Holly Holm, Cris Cyborg and many others. Midway through the stanza, Shevchenko scored with a nice combination at long range, and she started putting her strikes together effectively as Nunes slowed down. 3. Holly Holm 10. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE NO ADVERTISING USE NO PROMOTIONAL USE NO MERCHANDISING USE. It took her a while to get on the UFC roster, and fans had long since called out for her to be signed to the promotion, due to her fast and entertaining fighting style. As of August 19, 2019, she is #5 in official UFC pound-for-pound rankings. A few female MMA fighters have risen to the very top of MMA stardom, and in this article we will take a look at the top 10 female MMA fighters that have ever been signed to the UFC. Greatest Female Fighters of All Time | Tapology MMA Rankings She came into the UFC with a 15-0 record and has only lost two fights in her 21 match career. She drew massive PPV numbers and most female MMA fighters are very vocal in their thanks to Ronda for advancing the female fanbase. With two minutes left, Zhang landed a hard shot to the forehead, but Jedrzejczyk kept moving forward, landing an elbow before the two locked up against the fence. We Highlight The Sports Top 30 Women In Celebration Of UFC's 30th Anniversary. Since then, the BJJ purple belt has gone on to be one of the most notable veterans in the sport, collecting various accomplishments like Fight of the Night (three times), most bouts in UFC women's strawweight division history, and she was the first African American woman to headline a UFC event. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa Getty Images), (Watch Claudia Gadelha On UFC Fight Pass). (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa Getty Images). Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk delivered the greatest fight in womens MMA historyat T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and when it was over, the result of the UFC 248 co-main event was almost secondary due to the epic nature of the bout, but it was Zhang retaining her UFC strawweight title for the first time via five-round split decision in a fight that raised the stock of both ladies and the sport. List of current UFC fighters - Wikipedia Joanna Jdrzejczyk Joanna J drzejczyk Profile Summary Joanna was born in Poland and has been fighting since 2008. She became pro in 2010 fighting under Bellator, XFC, and Invicta FC before entering the UFC in 2013. Miesha Tate 9. (Watch Joanna Jedrzejczyk On UFC Fight Pass), Rose Namajunas battles Carla Esparza in the UFC strawweight championship fight during the UFC 274 event at Footprint Center on May 07, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. When it comes to the pound-for-pound best women UFC fighter right now, Valentina Shevchenko and Amanda Nunes have to be near the top of the list, while also among the best female UFC fighters of all time. Pea is currently one of the most recognizable women in the UFC because of her extensive resume over a decade that includes being the first ever woman to win The Ultimate Fighter and the 2021 Upset of the Year vs Amanda Nunes in 2021. The Best Women's Fights in UFC History | UFC - UFC.com The division presented . Despite the adversity that the Maryland native has faced, she has four first-round finishes, four wins by submission and a current record of 13-6. Holm would go on to lose her belt against Miesha Tate in her next bout (a fight she was dominating until Tate sunk in a rear-naked choke which made Holm pass out). She holds Octagon wins over; Valentino Shevchenko. PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 13: Claudia Gadelha of Brazil punches Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland in their women's strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at the U.S. Airways Center on December 13, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. Alexa Grasso Lands Punches Before Securing a TKO on Alida Gray. 5. The toughest women's UFC fighters can fight standing up or grapple on the mat, until they find themselves with the opportunity for a ground-and-pound in the Octagon. In fact, Ronda has never had a fight go to decision in her entire MMA career, win or lose. The best woman UFC fighters like Rose Namajunas and Julianna Pea have their claim to the best female fighter in UFC title as well. Aspen Ladd is the most divisive on this list rank it your way 1 Valentina Shevchenko Quickly making a name for herself in the sport, she made her UFC debut on The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson. These two came out swinging from the start and never let off the throttle, with Andrade constantly pressing forward (as she does) and Hill refusing to yield (as she does), resulting in a wildly entertaining affair that earned the Brazilian a victory and shot at the title and Hill some long overdue recognition as one of the top talents in the division. Jessica took her chance at UFC Gold with both hands and got a shocking slam KO victory over champion at the time, Rose Namajunas, making Jessica the new queen of the UFC Strawweight division. Strawweight contenders Michelle Waterson and Angela Hill both showed up at the Apex in Las Vegas to put on a show in their main event Saturday night, and they did just that for 25 minutes, with Waterson eking out a hard-fought five-round split decision. Sherdog's Top 10: Greatest Fighters Never to have Competed in the UFC While McMann eventually put Reneau on her back, the 40-year-old contender instantly threw up her legs to attack with a triangle and as McMann looked to defend the series of elbows coming her way, The Belizean Bruiser tightened her choke and secured the tap to complete her comeback. Taila Santos of Brazil celebrates after her decision victory over Molly McCann in their flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on July 16, 2020 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The best woman UFC fighters like Rose Namajunas and Julianna Pea have their claim to the best female fighter in UFC title as well. This is likely why her MMA record doesnt look as good as one might expect from a female fighter appearing on this list (12-5). Top 30 Women Athletes In UFC History | UFC 30th Anniversary | UFC - UFC.com Amanda Nunes made history in more ways than one at The Forum in Inglewood. Over three years she accumulated a clean record of 7-0. Vote up the all time best women's . Both fighters were busy to start, but a minute in, Jedrzejczyk landed a hard right hand upstairs and her combinations at close range had the former champ smiling and in the lead. Which of the best UFC women fighters right now do you love? Its been just over five years since these two women shared the cage in Las Vegas and it still might be the best scrap on the womens side of the sport to take place inside the Octagon. She came into the UFC with a 15-0 record and has only lost two fights in her 21 match career. Holm played the part of the matador perfectly, sidestepping and countering Rouseys aggressive advances with precision, frustrating the dominant champion from the jump. She has won the UFC multiple times and has at times held titles in two different divisions simultaneously. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa Getty Images). Lists about fighters who compete in mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Brazilian grew up training jiu-jitsu and started professional MMA at 19 years old. Nunes would become one of the most decorated athletes the sport has ever seen, winning the bantamweight championship at UFC 200 and successfully defending it five times. Since then, Holm has competed in both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions, sharing the Octagon with names like Miesha Tate, Amanda Nunes, and Cris Cyborg. However, her UFC career went from strength to strength and she managed to score impressive wins over big names in the female MMA circuit such as; Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Claudia Gadelha, Tecia Torres and Rose Namajunas. Valentina Shevchenko (18-3) is a female MMA fighter from Kyrgyzstan, who achieved the honour of. Your email address will not be published. Mackenzie Dern 12. The strawweight has only lost twice times in the Octagon and has won 23 of her last 25. 20 Best female MMA fighters in the world: most beautiful women fighters Joanna Jedrzejczyk is a Polish fighter who tasted UFC gold at UFC 185 when she overpowered and knocked out Carla Esparza, to become the UFCs Strawweight champion. Career: 2010-present. Rose Namajunas, or Thug Rose as Daniel Cormier coined at UFC 217, is a former UFC Strawweight Champion from the USA. Your email address will not be published. Just as Rouseys first appearance in the Octagon was a Where were you when? moment, so too was the night she was knocked from her throne and the ranks of the unbeaten. Though she took a loss, Correia still had a fulfilling, active career until her final bout in 2021. Top 10 female UFC fighters of all time by Soumya Ranjan April 17, 2023, 9:37 AM IST in UFC Amanda Nunes, Ronda Rousey an Valentina Shevchenko (Image Courtesy: UFC) Contents 1 List of top female UFC fighters of all time10. Andrea Leestarting training in 2009 when she was 20 years-old. Entering the fifth round, Holm was up 3-1 on the scorecards and had done an admirable job of keeping the fight standing. Some completely revolutionized the world of female fighting while others made it as popular as it is today. She would only fight once more, when she was again KOd within a minute by Amanda Nunes, where Rousey showed almost amateur like head movement. Over 500 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Female Fighters In UFC Right Now, The Best UFC Fighters Who Walked Away From The Octagon. She was eventually granted a shot at the Strawweight title against the then dominant champ, Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Still undefeated at the time, Joanna looked unstoppable and she kept her multiple challengers at bay, holding on to the Championship gold for 3 years (and 5 fights). Mar. The Best Female Fighters In UFC Right Now. Gadelha was a pioneer in the strawweight division as she was picked to be one of the fighters that would compete on season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter which would name the first strawweight champion. 13-ranked Hill falls to 12-9. Karolina Kowalkiewicz began training at the age of 16. The Best Female UFC Fighters Of 2022 - Ranker The fighter sits at #2 in thepound-for-pound rankingsand is on a five fight win streak. Which of the best UFC women fighters do you love? "The Miracle" Makes His First UFC Walk At Home After Defying The Odds Yet Again. Cat Zingano elbows Amanda Nunes in their women's bantamweight fight during the UFC 178 event inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tucked away as the final preliminary card bout of the evening, Jedrzejczyk and Gadelha would eventually gain recognition as two of the top female fighters in the world and burgeoning stars in the UFC, but on this evening, they were unheralded contenders who went toe-to-toe in an agonizingly close fight where the outcome is still debated to this day. two different weight divisions at the same time, Psychology of Sports: How Mindset Affects Performance, Top 10 Most Dangerous Sports in the World. The best woman UFC fighters like Rose Namajunas and Julianna Pea have their claim to the best female fighter in UFC title as well. Even more impressive Valentina is also the number one ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Women's. Kayla Harrison. Currently, she is ranked second in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings. She is currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Her vicious knockout power made her a stand out candidate in the womens Strawweight division and her style got her a title shot against Rose Namajunas at UFC 237. She was made the bantamweight champion and made her 1st title defense against Liz Carmouche at UFC 157. Making a name for herself, the UFC welcomed her in 2013 as a replacement for Miesha Tate against Liz Carmouche. In honor of breaking barriers,UFC Fight Passhas compiled a list of the 30 best women athletes that have made their mark in this sport and continue to pave the way. The quality of their fighters is improving dramatically as it attracts even more new talents. The 25 Best Female MMA Strikers Currently, Ranked Carla The Cookie Monster Esparza is one of the most decorated female fighters of all-time. She is known for her Brazilian jiu-jitsu. By the end of the round, the crowd was roaring at the fast-paced action, but Zhangs eye was rapidly swelling. We eventually got to see that play out as Nunes rose to the top of the division and Shevchenko emerged as the No. This is just scratching the surface of everything she has accomplished in her decade-long UFC career, and she yearns to continue to cement her legacy as she awaits her next bout against Yan Xiaonan. Ranking Every Women's UFC Champion From Worst To Best - TheSportster While she held the bantamweight title, she defeated veteran Cris Cyborg for the featherweight title to become the first female and third athlete to hold UFC titles in two divisions simultaneously. Let's briefly consider some of the leading female fighters in the UFC, from current champions to upcoming stars. Fighting in the bantamweight division, McMann has been placed in the Octagon with some of the most notable women in the sport like Amanda Nunes, Julianna Pea, and Miesha Tate. HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 04: (R-L) Jessica Andrade of Brazil punches Angela Hill in their women's strawweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the Toyota Center on February 4, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Zingano doesnt currently compete with the UFC but while she was here, she paved the way for the future generation of women in mixed martial arts. Holly "The Preacher's . She has also won the UFC Womens Bantamweight Championship by defeating Miesha Tate in the form of submission.Considering all these factors it is safe to say not just currently, Amanda is one of the best female UFC fighters ever. Amanda Nunes is the best female UFC fighter in 2023 holding the top spot in women's pound for pound. In his lone fight of the year, the Brazilian veteran fought for the light. Bethe "Pitbull" Correiais a retired mixed martial artist from Brazil. Irene Aldana actively fights in the bantamweight division and holds the #5 ranking. In her career, she . The toughest women's UFC fighters can fight standing up or grapple on the mat, until they find themselves with the opportunity for a ground-and-pound in the Octagon. She started herprofessional career in 2014 and made her UFC debut in 2019, defeating Emily Whitmire via rear naked choke. Dern has only been professional for seven years and hopes to keep adding to her already impressive resume. Fans were able to witness the two fight . Battling big names like Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Liz Carmouche, and Taila Santos, she won the vacant belt against Jedrzejczyk and successfully defended her title seven times before losing the crown to Alexa Grasso earlier this month. With the bout possibly on the line, both fighters showed a sense of urgency as the fifth round opened, each getting shots in, and as the clock ticked down, Waterson began pulling ahead with fast punches and kicks, only to be answered by Hill, who roared back, setting up a series of heated exchanges until the final horn. Shevchenko competes in the women's flyweight division of the, Zhang Weili (born August 13, 1989), nickname Magnum, is a Chinese mixed martial artist. Erin Cold Blooded Blanchfield is a young mixed martial artist from New Jersey. She is widely considered as one of the best female fighters in the world. With under two minutes left, Shevchenko tried to turn a Nunes takedown into a throw, but Nunes ended up on her back on the mat. The grappler quickly became a fan favorite and won her next three out of four bouts. But honestly, it was far from the worst MMA fight ever seen. Ronda would go on a 6 fight win streak, all finishes. Amanda Loureno Nunes (born May 30, 1988) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), in which she is the reigning champion of the Women's Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions. Of course, individual popularity depends on Octagon success, charisma and promotion, but this is just as true for the men in the UFC too. Top 30 Women Athletes In UFC History 20-11 | UFC 30th Anniversary - UFC.com When it comes to the pound-for-pound best women UFC fighter right now, Valentina Shevchenko and Amanda Nunes have to be near the top of the list, while also among the best female UFC fighters of all time. Top 10 women's fights in MMA history | Sporting News Holly Holm and Mayra Bueno Silva headline a UFC Fight Night at the UFC Apex in . The Brazilians Muay Thai background has . She made the transition to MMA in 2010 and signed with the UFC in 2013 . (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC). 8 consecutive wins in the UFC; WKN World Champion; J Girls Champion; WBKF Champion; WKF European Champion; . 2. Sara McMann made history in 2004 when she became the first American woman to earn a silver medal in Olympic wrestling. 10 10. Shevchenko battled with Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight championship at UFC 215 and then made the move to the 125-pound division. Here are the top 10.. Cyborg started professional MMA when she was 19 years old, and before she got to the UFC, she had easily made a name for herself in the sport, losing only her very first fight and not losing again until 2018. She stands at #4 in the flyweight rankings and #9 in pound-for-pound. Zhang Weili 4 7. With two minutes left, Zhang locked up with Jedrzejczyk briefly, and once they broke, it was Zhang roaring back, raising a welt on the challengers head in the process. The first womens bout in UFC history, the arrival of Rousey to the biggest stage in the sport was a cultural moment and a crucial point in the growth and development of the organization. 8-ranked Waterson, now 18-8. After the challenger controlled the opening portion of the middle stanza, Jedrzejczyk worked her way out of scrambles and strolled back to the center of the cage with confidence, motioning for her Brazilian rival to meet her on the feet. She started fighting at a local gym in Mexico and has had an expedited career since. Since Ronda Rousey joined UFC, the popularity of womens MMA is in a steadily rising trend.The UFC womens roster is now full of talented sports stars, known for the martial arts.There is an elite legion of women combatants to discover, past and present.The MMAs division is new enough to look back reasonably quickly and see its founding legends, establishing champions and building combatants.But today, well be looking at the ladies dominating the division right now. Amanda is known to have defeated Cyborg in a matter of 51 seconds of the bout to win and be the UFC Womens Featherweight Champion. Andrade made a concerted effort to use more head movement in the rematch, and it paid dividends in the first round, as she was able to dodge a lot of incoming fire while landing some hard shots. Top 15 Greatest Female UFC Fighters of All Time (2023) - The Karate Blog Shevchenko continued to get her shots in, but she wasnt busy enough to get Nunes attention for any length of time. Marina Rodriguez is considered one of the best fighters in the UFCs strawweight division.She is currently ranked #3 in the UFCs official strawweight rankings and has a four-fight winning streak.Her lone pro loss was a debated split decision to the current champion, Carla Esparza, and she has knocked off both strawweight contenders last year.MMA fans know Rodriguez for her exceptional fighting from a distance or in the clinch, making her an exceptionally scrappy fighter in the middle range.She expects to get a title shot between the Carla Esparza vs. Zhang Weili winner no matter how she wins at UFC Fight Night 214.MMA analysts have praised her for her scrappiness in the middle range, with great cardio, a good chin, and high output.With her impressive record and powerful performances, Marina Rodriguez is well-positioned to be one of the best fighters in the strawweight division.