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411 MMA Women’s Pound for Pound Rankings: Amanda Nunes, Weili Zhang, More
411’s MMA Rankings
Pound For Pound
1) “The Lioness” Amanda Nunes (21-4)
Birthday: May 30, 1988
Height: 5’8
Weight (lbs.): 135/145
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Megan Anderson – Win via submission (triangle armbar) – UFC 259 – March 6, 2021
– vs. Felicia Spencer – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 250 – June 6, 2020
– vs. Germaine de Randamie – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019
– vs. Holly Holm – Win via TKO (head kick and strikes) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019
– vs. Cris Cyborg – Win via KO (punches) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Nunes successfully defended the featherweight title for second time as she dominated Megan Anderson and submitted her 123 seconds into the fight. There’s no clear cut fighter in the world you can point to and say she’s the person who can give Nunes the biggest challenge. Nobody, she’s head and shoulders above every other person at bantamweight or featherweight. The only alure of watching Nunes fight is that she’s clearly the best and she continues to improve in each new fight which is a scary thought.
2) Valentina Shevchenko (20-3)
Height: 5’5
Weight (lbs.): 125
Birthday: March 7, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jennifer Maia – Win via decision (unaninmous) – UFC 255 – November 21, 2020
– vs. Katlyn Chookagian – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 247 – February 8, 2020
– vs. Liz Carmouche – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN+ – August 10, 2019
– vs. Jessica Eye – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC 238 – June 8, 2019
– vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jessica Andrade – UFC 261 – April 24, 2021
Comment: If Shevchenko is able to beat Jessica Andrade at UFC 261, she will become the 11th UFC champion to have at least five successful defenses in a single title reign (Ortiz, Hughes, GSP, Aldo, Jones, Johnson, Rousey, Jedrzejeczyk, Nunes).
3) Weili Zhang (21-1)
Height: 5’4
Weight (lbs.): 115
Birthday: August 13, 1989
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk – Win via decision (split) – UFC 248 – March 7, 2020
vs. Jessica Andrade – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – August 31, 2019
– vs. Tecia Torres – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 235 – March 2, 2019
– vs. Jessica Aguilar – Win via submission (armor) – UFC Fight Night – November 24, 2018
– vs. Danielle Taylor – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 227 – August 4, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Rose Namajunas – UFC 261 – April 24, 2021
4) Cris “Cyborg” Justino (23-2, 1 NC)
Height: 5’8
Weight (lbs.): 145
Birthday: July 9, 1985
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Arlene Blencowe – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – Bellator MMA 249 – October 15, 2020
– vs. Julia Budd – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator MMA – January 25, 2020
– vs. Felicia Spencer – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 230 – July 27, 2019
– vs. Amanda Nunes – Loss via KO (punches) – UFC 232 – December 29, 2018
– vs. Yana Kunitskaya – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 222 – March 3, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
5) Jessica Andrade (21-8)
Height: 5’2
Weight (lbs.): 115
Birthday: September 25, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Katlyn Chookagian – Win via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – October 17, 2020
– vs. Rose Namajunas – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 251 – July 11, 2020
– vs. Weili Zhang – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC on ESPN+ – August 31, 2019
– vs. Rose Namajunas – Win via KO (slam) – UFC 237 – May 11, 2019
– vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz – Win via KO (punch) UFC 228 – September 8, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Valentina Shevchenko – UFC 261 – April 24, 2021
Comment: Looking for new pathways, Andrade moved down to flyweight in the fall and finished Katlyn Chookagian in the first round on Fight Island. That performance has since earned her a shot at champion Valentina Shevchenko next month.
6) Rose “Thug” Namajunas (9-4)
Height: 5’5
Weight (lbs.): 115
Birthday: June 29, 1992
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jessica Andrade – Win via decision (split) – UFC 251 – July 11, 2020
– vs. Jessica Andrade – Loss via KO (slam) – UFC 237 – May 11, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Weili Zhang – UFC 261 – April 24, 2021
Comment: Rose will try to become the first two-time UFC women’s flyweight champion next month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RkjFCMiA00
7) Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4)
Height: 5’6
Weight (lbs.): 115
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Weili Zhang – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 248 – March 7, 2020
– vs. Michelle Waterson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN+ – October 12, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
8) Germaine de Randamie (10-4)
Height: 5’9
Weight (lbs.): 135
Birthday: April 24, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Julianna Pena – Win via technical submission (guillotine choke) – UFC on ESPN – October 3, 2020
– vs. Amanda Nunes – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 245 – December 14, 2019
– vs. Aspen Ladd – Win via TKO (punch) – UFC Fight Night – July 13, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
9) Julia Budd (14-3)
Height: 5’8
Weight (lbs.): 145
Birthday: July 4, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Jessy Miele – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 244 – August 21, 2020
– vs. Cyborg – Loss via TKO (strikes) – Bellator MMA – January 25, 2020
– vs. Olga Rubin – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 224 – July 12, 2019
– vs. Talita Nogueira – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 202 – July 13, 2018
– vs. Arlene Blencowe – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 189 – December 1, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Dayana Silva – Bellator 256 – April 9, 2021
Comment: Budd wants a rematch with Cyborg and is trying to build her case. At Bellator 256 (week two on Showtime), she will welcome Brazil Shooto featherweight champion Dayana Silva to the company. Silva was unsuccessful in 2018 on Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil. Following that, she began fighting for Shooto Brazil and since became champion. Silva will now have her chance to break through in the U.S. fighting the former Bellator champion in Julia Budd.
10) Tatiana Suarez (8-0)
Height: 5’5
Weight (lbs.): 115
Birthday: December 19, 1990
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Nina Ansaroff – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 238 – June 8, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Suarez is hoping for a summer comeback this year following a neck injury that has kept her out of action for nearly two years.
11) Katlyn Chookagian (15-4)
Height: 5’9
Weight (lbs.): 125
Birthday: December 28, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Cynthia Calvillo – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 255 – November 21, 2020
– vs. Jessica Andrade – Loss via KO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – October 17, 2020
– vs. Antonina Shevchenko – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – May 30, 2020
– vs. Valentina Shevchenko – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 247 – February 8, 2020
– vs. Jennifer Maia – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 244 – November 2, 2019
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Viviane Araujo – UFC 262 – May 15, 2021
12) Xiaonan Yan (13-1, 1 NC)
Birthday: June 16, 1989
Height: 5’5
Weight (lbs.): 115
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Claudia Gadelha – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – November 7, 2020
– vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – February 23, 2020
– vs. Angela Hill – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 238 – June 8, 2019
– vs. Syuri Kondo – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – November 24, 2018
– vs. Viviane Periera – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – June 23, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Carla Esparza – UFC Fight Night – May 22, 2021
13) Juliana Velasquez (11-0)
Height: 5’6
Weight (lbs.): 125
Birthday: October 19, 1986
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 254 – December 10, 2020
– vs. Bruna Ellen – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 236 – December 21, 2019
– vs. Kristina Williams – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 224 – July 12, 2019
– vs. Alejandra Lara – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 212 – December 14, 2018
– vs. Rebecca Ruth – Win via KO (body kick) – Bellator 197 – April 13, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
14) Angela Lee (10-2)
Height: 5’4
Weight (lbs.): 114
Birthday: July 8, 1996
Currently Fighting With: ONE Championship
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Xiong Jingnan – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – ONE: Century – October 12, 2019
– vs. Michelle Nicolini – Loss via decision (unanimous) – ONE: Masters of Destiny – July 12, 2019
– vs. Xiong Jingnan – Loss via TKO (strikes) – ONE: A New Era – March 31, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: ONE Championship has announced an atomweight tournament to begin this spring with the winner earning a title fight against Angela Lee in November. The eight challengers include Seo Hee Ham, Meng Bo, Stamp Fairtex, Denice Zamboanga, Itsuki Hirata, Alyona Rassohyna, Ritu Phogat and Alyse Anderson.
15) Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza (17-6)
Height: 5’1
Weight (lbs.): 115
Birthday: October 10, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Marina Rodriguez – Win via decision (split) – UFC on ESPN – July 25, 2020
– vs. Michelle Waterson – Win via decision (split) – UFC 249 – May 9, 2020
– vs. Alexa Grasso – Win via decision (split) – UFC Fight Night – September 21, 2019
– vs. Virna Jandiroba – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – April 27, 2019
– vs. Tatiana Suarez – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Xiaonan Yan – UFC Fight Night – May 22, 2021
