Women’s Strawweight
1. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (13-0)
With a knockout of inaugural UFC 115-pound champion Carla Esparza, two wins over divisional No. 2 Claudia Gadelha and a blowout of previously undefeated fellow Pole Karolina Kowalkiewicz, there is no question that Jedrzejczyk is both the alpha at 115 pounds and the top woman in the sport. Fortunately, just as soon as folks doubted that “Joanna Champion” had any contenders, Brazilian Jessica Andrade has emerged and will likely be the fifth challenger to the undefeated Jedrzejczyk's throne later this year.2. Claudia Gadelha (14-2)
As the clear second banana at 115 pounds but with two recent losses to champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Gadelha needs a way to keep herself occupied. Fortunately for the Brazilian standout, the Internet seems to have provided just the outlet to keep her career chugging along. “Claudinha” has recently taken to social media to posture for a fight with former champion Carla Esparza, igniting a none-too-pleasant war of words between the two women on Instagram and Twitter.3. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (10-1)
Looking at avenge a March 2012 amateur loss, Kowalkiewicz was game against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 205 but could not catch up to the champion’s striking pace and output. The 31-year-old Kowalkiewicz still boasts a 10-1 pro mark and is clearly one of the world’s best strawweights, but even if she secures a rematch with Jedrzejczyk down the line, she figures to be a considerable underdog after a clear unanimous decision loss.4. Jessica Andrade (16-5)
Just as Joanna Jedrzejczyk really started to flex on the top women's division in MMA and just as some folks doubted there were any serious contenders on the horizon, the sport got blessed with a lighter Andrade. Since dropping from 135 to 115 pounds in 2016, Brazil's “Piledriver” is now 3-0 with three wild wins. First came complete blowouts of former title challenger Jessica Penne and respected striker Joanne Calderwood and then a brutal 15-minute ware with Angela Hill at UFC Fight Night “Bermudez vs. Korean Zombie.” The 25-year-old Andrade has looked sensational over the last nine months and will assuredly be the next UFC strawweight title challenger and perhaps the most compelling one to date for “Joanna Champion.”5. Carla Esparza (11-3)
While the UFC's first strawweight champion has spent her recent time on social media calling out divisional standout Claudia Gadelha, a showdown with the Nova Uniao standout is not on deck for “Cookie Monster.” Esparza's next Octagon appointment will instead come on Feb. 19, when she takes on fellow “Ultimate Fighter 20” alum Randa Markos at UFC Fight Night 105.6. Rose Namajunas (5-3)
Namajunas entered the UFC 201 co-main event with Karolina Kowalkiewicz as a healthy favorite. A win would have earned her a second crack at UFC strawweight gold, likely lining up a showdown with 115-pound queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Instead, despite a fast start from Namajunas, the crafty clinch work of Kowalkiewicz earned her a split decision win and highlighted some of the wrinkles the still-developing 24-year-old has to iron out of her game.7. Tecia Torres (8-1)
Torres saw her first Octagon action in 10 months on Feb. 4 in Houston, and it was a thorough, consummate Torres-esque performance. For 15 minutes, Torres bested an overweight Bec Rawlings, both on the feet and in most other facets of the game, to win a tidy shutout decision. More importantly, before and after her victory, the “Tiny Tornado” discussed her desire to take time away from the cage to complete her master's degree in criminology, which is likely the next opponent for the formidable 27-year-old.8. Maryna Moroz (8-1)
UFC 207 saw a few notable bouts dissolve, including Moroz’s slated battle with surging Brazilian prospect Jessica Andrade. After an undisclosed injury knocked the Ukrainian “Iron Woman” out of the bout, would-be replacement Angela Hill could not be cleared for her UFC return due to USADA testing protocols, leading to the match being nixed all together.9. Angela Hill (6-3)
Officially, Hill is now 0-3 in the UFC, which is hardly worthy of note. However, “Angie Overkill” was a converted kickboxer who was not nearly as experienced as her counterparts on “The Ultimate Fighter 20,” leading to two early losses in her first tenure. After going 4-0 in Invicta in 2016, Hill came back to the Octagon on Feb. 4 in Houston; and while she lost a unanimous verdict to Jessica Andrade, no one will slight the 30-year-old Hill. Frankly, her fight with Andrade was 15 minutes of thrills, as Hill showed off both MMA improvement and an incredible chin. This UFC deal for Hill is unlikely to be two-and-done.10. Livia Renata Souza (9-1)
Following her close and competitive Invicta title loss to Angela Hill in May, Souza has alternated between calling for a title rematch and lobbying for a UFC contract. With Hill now back in the UFC and not returning to defend that strap anytime soon, the question becomes whether Souza gets a perfunctory vacant title fight in Invicta or the chance to jump into the Octagon -- an opportunity for which the 25-year-old Brazilian is more than ready.Other Contenders: Joanne Calderwood, Cortney Casey, Juliana Lima, Viviane Pereira, Weili Zhang