mma / Columns

411 MMA Rankings 01.04.19: Women’s Pound for Pound

January 4, 2019 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

411’s MMA Rankings

Pound For Pound


1) “The Lioness” Amanda Nunes (17-4)

Birthday: May 30, 1988

Height: 5’8

Weight (lbs.): 135

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Cris Cyborg – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018

– vs. Raquel Pennington – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018

– vs. Valentina Shevchenko – Win via decision (split) – UFC 215 – September 9, 2017

– vs. Ronda Rousey – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 207 – December 30, 2016

– vs. Miesha Tate – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 200: Tate vs. Nunes – July 9, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Amanda Nunes made history Saturday night, becoming the first person to knock out Cyborg. She’s the first female two-division champion in the UFC, the first major featherweight champion not named Cyborg and punched her ticket as the best female fighter in MMA history. Not bad for less than a minute inside the cage at UFC 232. Nunes blasted Cyborg with a barrage punches in a slugfest we’ve seen time and again. The only difference between all of those fights and this was the fact that Cyborg face planted. For years, Cyborg overwhelmed her opponents and took their souls, but that run ended in 2018 thanks to Nunes.



2) Rose “Thug” Namajunas (8-3)

Height: 5’5

Weight (lbs.): 115

Birthday: June 29, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 223 – April 7, 2018

– vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017

– vs. Michelle Waterson – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017

– vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 201 – July 30, 2016

– vs. Tecia Torres – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – April 16, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: There has not been much of talk of Rose’s return to the cage. However, logic would point to a title defense against Jessica Andrade as the most likely option for when “Thug” does sign for a fight. Namajunas was the person who ended Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s dominant run atop the strawweight division and she began developing her own legacy in the first title defense this past spring. In 2019, can she continue adding to that legacy?




3) Cris “Cyborg” Justino (20-2, 1 NC)

Height: 5’8

Weight (lbs.): 145

Birthday: July 9, 1985

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Amanda Nunes – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018

– vs. Yana Kunitskaya – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 222 – March 3, 2018

– vs. Holly Holm – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 219 – December 30, 2017

– vs. Tonya Evinger – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 214 – July 29, 2017

– vs. Lina Lansberg – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – September 24, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Cyborg’s pro fighting career started in 2005 and she was submitted in her first MMA fight. She did not lose again until 22 fights later this past Saturday night. Cyborg was her usual aggressive-self, marching forward and throwing bombs. Instead of seeing her opponent wilt under that pressure, Amanda Nunes returned the favor and landed a series of powerful punches that dropped Cyborg in under a minute. Will she be able to bounce back in 2019?



4) Valentina Shevchenko (16-3)

Height: 5’5

Weight (lbs.): 125

Birthday: March 7, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018

– vs. Priscila Cachoeira – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – February 3, 2018

– vs. Amanda Nunes – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 215 – September 9, 2017

– vs. Julianna Pena – Win via submission (armbar) – UFC on Fox – January 28, 2017

vs. Holly Holm – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – July 23, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown

Comment: Valentina is the reigning UFC women’s flyweight champion, having beaten Joanna Jedrzejczyk in a match for the vacant title. It was stripped from Nicco Montano because she was unable to make weight at UFC 228. More than a year after the title was created, there still has yet to be a title defense, though Shevchenko looks like she will be able to make plenty of those starting in 2019.



5) Jessica Andrade (19-6)

Height: 5’2

Weight (lbs.): 115

Birthday: September 25, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz – Win via KO (punch) UFC 228 – September 8, 2018

– vs. Tecia Torres – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – February 24, 2018

– vs. Claudia Gadelha – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 22, 2017

– vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017

– vs. Angela Hill – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 4, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



6) Joanna Jedrzejczyk (15-3)

Height: 5’6

Weight (lbs.): 115

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Valentina Shevchenko – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018

– vs. Tecia Torres – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – July 28, 2018

– vs. Rose Namajunas – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 223 – April 7, 2018

– vs. Rose Namajunas – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 217 – November 4, 2017

– vs. Jessica Andrade – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 211 – May 13, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



7) Livia Renata Souza (12-1)

Height: 5’4

Weight (lbs.): 115

Birthday: March 11, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Alex Chambers – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC Fight Night – September 22, 2018

– vs. Janaisa Morandin – Win via decision (unanimous) – Invicta FC 25 – August 31, 2017

– vs. Ayaka Hamasaki – Win via KO (punches) – Invicta FC 22 – March 25, 2017

– vs. Angela Hill – Loss via decision (split) – Invicta FC 17 – May 7, 2016

vs. DeAnna Bennett – Win via TKO (body kick) – Invicta FC 15: Cyborg vs. Ibragimova – January 16, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Sarah Frota – UFC Fight Night – February 2, 2019

Comment: One of the most intriguing UFC debuts in 2018 was that of Livia Renata Souza. Entering the octagon with a 11-1 record, the former Invicta champion choked out Alex Chambers in 81 seconds in September. She will get right back into action next month, fighting fellow Brazilian Sarah Frota (9-0).




8) Germaine de Randamie (8-3)

Height: 5’9

Weight (lbs.): 135

Birthday: April 24, 1984

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Raquel Pennington – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 10, 2018

– vs. Holly Holm – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 208 – February 11, 2017

– vs. Anna Elmose – Win via KO (knee) – UFC Fight Night – May 8, 2016

– vs. Larissa Pacheco – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 185 – March 14, 2015

– vs. Amanda Nunes – Loss via TKO (elbows) – UFC Fight Night – November 6, 2013

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




9) Nina Ansaroff (10-5)

Height: 5’5

Weight (lbs.): 115

Birthday: December 3, 1985

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Claudia Gadelha – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018

– vs. Randa Markos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – July 28, 2018

– vs. Angela Hill – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 11, 2017

– vs. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – January 15, 2017

– vs. Justin Kish – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 195 – January 2, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown


10) Julia Budd (12-2)

Height: 5’8

Weight (lbs.): 145

Birthday: July 4, 1983

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Talita Nogueira – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 202 – July 13, 2018

– vs. Arlene Blencowe – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 189 – December 1, 2017

– vs. Marloes Coenen – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 174 – March 3, 2017

– vs. Arlene Blencoe – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 162 – October 21, 2016

– vs. Roberta Paim Rovel – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 146 – November 20, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



11) Ketlen Vieira (10-0)

Height: 5’8

Weight (lbs.): 135

Birthday: August 26, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Cat Zingano – Win via decision (split) – UFC 222 – March 3, 2018

– vs. Sara McMann – Win via submission (arm-triangle choke) – UFC 215 – September 9, 2017

– vs. Ashlee Evans-Smith – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on Fox – April 15, 2017

– vs. Kelly Faszholz – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – October 1, 2016

– vs. Estefani Almeida – Win via decision (unanimous) – Big Way Fight Night – February 20, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



12) Angela Lee (9-0)

Height: 5’4

Weight (lbs.): 114

Birthday: July 8, 1996

Currently Fighting With: ONE Championship

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Mei Yamaguchi – Win via decision (unanimous) – ONE 73 – May 19, 2018

– vs. Istela Nunes – Win via submission (anaconda choke) – ONE 55 – May 26, 2017

– vs. Jenny Huang – Win via submission (strikes) – ONE 53 – March 11, 2017

– vs. Mei Yamaguchi – Win via decision (unanimous) – ONE 42 – May 6, 2016

– vs. Rebecca Heintzman – Win via submission (neck crank) – ONE 39 – February 20, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




13) Jennifer Maia (15-5-1)

Height: 5’4

Weight (lbs.): 135

Birthday: October 6, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Liz Carmouche – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – July 14, 2018

– vs. Aga Niedzwiedz – Win via decision (unanimous) – Invicta FC 26 – December 8, 2017

– vs. Roxanne Modafferi – Win via decision (split) – Invicta FC 19 – September 23, 2016

– vs. Vanessa Porto – Win via decision (unanimous) – Invicta FC 16 – March 11, 2016

– vs. Dayana Silva – Win via decision (split) – Invicta FC 2 – December 3, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




14) Claudia Gadelha (16-4)

Birthday: December 7, 1988

Height: 5’3

Weight (lbs.): 115

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Nina Ansaroff – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018

– vs. Carla Esparza – Win via decision (split) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018

– vs. Jessica Andrade – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – September 22, 2017

– vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 212 – June 3, 2017

– vs. Courtney Casey – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 19, 2016

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



15)Tatiana Suarez (7-0)

Height: 5’5

Weight (lbs.): 115

Birthday: December 19, 1990

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Carla Esparza – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018

– vs. Alexa Grasso – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – May 19, 2018

– vs. Viviane Pereira – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 11, 2017

– vs. Amanda Cooper – Win via submission (D’arce Choke) – UFC TUF Finale – July 8, 2016

– vs. Arline Coban – Win via TKO (strikes) – Gladiator Challenge – August 22, 2015

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown