Women’s Bantamweight
1. Amanda Nunes (14-4)
Following her 48-second destruction of Ronda Rousey in December, it was a foregone conclusion that Nunes' second UFC title defense would come in a rematch against Valentina Shevchenko, a fighter she bested via unanimous decision in March 2016. After politicking over the date and venue, the rematch has finally been scheduled: “The Lioness” will risk 135-pound supremacy when she faces Shevchenko at UFC 213 on July 8 in Las Vegas.2. Valentina Shevchenko (14-2)
Shevchenko's super-slick second-round armbar on Julianna Pena in January left no doubt she was the UFC's top bantamweight contender. The question for Shevchenko was when precisely she would get the chance to avenge her March 2016 decision loss to champ Amanda Nunes, as the two spent the first four months of the 2017 calendar publicly cajoling one another. Ink has now been put to paper, and Nunes-Shevchenko 2 is a go for UFC 213 on July 8 in Las Vegas.3. Holly Holm (10-3)
Holm owns the most meritorious and significant win in women's MMA history, courtesy of her booting Ronda Rousey in the face at UFC 193 to claim 135-pound gold in front of 56,000-plus in Melbourne, Australia. However, that was in November 2015 and “The Preacher's Daughter” has now lost three in a row, even though her last loss came in her 145-pound UFC title fight against Germaine de Randamie. If Holm is going to keep her place in the bantamweight division, she will have to come out with a win on June 17, when she headlines the UFC Fight Night card in Singapore against former title challenger Bethe Correia.4. Julianna Pena (8-3)
Pena had her moments in the UFC on Fox 23 headliner, but ultimately, she could not finish her armbar in the first round and watched as opponent Valentina Shevchenko cinched one of her own late in the second. “The Venezuelan Vixen” still has one of the division's best hit lists; and at 27 years old, she has plenty of time to contend for a title.5. Raquel Pennington (9-5)
Since beginning her pro career 3-3, “Rocky” has gone 6-2 in the Octagon, including a four-fight winning streak that features a victory over former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate at UFC 205 in November. Pennington figures to be in the UFC 135-pound title mix in the immediate future, but she first must recover from surgeries on her shoulder and hand.6. Ronda Rousey (12-2)
After much anticipation, curiosity and speculation surrounding her title fight versus Amanda Nunes at UFC 208, Rousey’s Octagon return quickly turned into a disastrous nightmare. The Olympic judo bronze medalist was tagged immediately by Nunes and then brutally clobbered with a battery of punches before biting the dust in just 48 seconds. Even with consecutive, humiliating losses to Nunes and Holly Holm, Rousey still has one of the best resumes at 135 pounds. Whether or not she ever fights again at all has become the operative question.7. Sara McMann (11-3)
It was disappointing that McMann did not get to square off with fellow former UFC title challenger Liz Carmouche at UFC Fight Night in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Feb. 19, but nonetheless, she handled business against injury replacement Gina Mazany. The Olympic silver medalist dominated Mazany, putting her on the mat and earning the tap with a beautiful arm-triangle choke in a mere 74 seconds.8. Tonya Evinger (19-5, 1 NC)
After her November title defense against Yana Kunitskaya was botched by referee Mike England in less than two minutes, Evinger rightly had the result of the bout overturned and got her title back; meanwhile, her challenger was granted a just rematch. In their second showdown at Invicta 22, Evinger retained her title and set the record straight, choking out Kunitskaya in the second round.9. Cat Zingano (9-2)
Back from a 16-month absence, Zingano is now eligible to be ranked again, but the former UFC title challenger did not return on a positive note. Though “Alpha” started quickly against Julianna Pena at UFC 200, she could not keep up her wrestling attack, giving up her back in the second and third rounds, fending off rear-naked chokes until the final bell and losing a unanimous decision.10. Liz Carmouche (11-5)
Carmouche’s win over Katlyn Chookagian in her overdue Octagon return in November put her back on the 135-pound map. “Girl-rilla” was set to jump deeper into the wide-open 135-pound race on Feb. 19, but an injury forced her to withdraw from a scheduled clash with Sara McMann at UFC Fight Night 109 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.Other Contenders: Katlyn Chookagian, Alexis Davis, Ashlee Evans-Smith, Lauren Murphy, Ketlen Vieira.
Continue Reading » Women’s Flyweight