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411 Women’s Pound for Pound MMA Rankings: Amanda Nunes, Rose Namajunas, More
411’s MMA Rankings
Pound For Pound
1) “The Lioness” Amanda Nunes (20-4)
Birthday: May 30, 1988
Height: 5’8
Weight (lbs.): 135/145
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Raquel Pennington – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Nunes advanced her win streak to 11, defended the featherweight championship for the first time and maintains her position as the best fighter in the world. It’s further to the point that you ask if there are any viable challengers for her at 145 or 135. The next best UFC fighter in these rankings at either weight class is Germaine de Randamie who lost to Nunes in December. That’s it – no other contender appears in the Pound for Pound rankings and beyond this you’re talking about names like Aspen Ladd, Irene Aldana, Megan Anderson and Julianna Pena.
The UFC will have to get creative to build any interest in Nunes’ next fight (beyond the “Watch the best fighter in the world in action” quality) unless Ladd looks incredible in her June 27th fight with Saran McMann and she gets fast tracked.
2) Valentina Shevchenko (19-3)
Height: 5’5
Weight (lbs.): 125
Birthday: March 7, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Priscila Cachoeira – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – February 3, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
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:
– Unknown
4) Cris “Cyborg” Justino (22-2, 1 NC)
Height: 5’8
Weight (lbs.): 145
Birthday: July 9, 1985
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Holly Holm – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 219 – December 30, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
5) Jessica Andrade (20-7)
Height: 5’2
Weight (lbs.): 115
Birthday: September 25, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Rose Namajunas – UFC 251 – July 11, 2020
6) Rose “Thug” Namajunas (8-4)
Height: 5’5
Weight (lbs.): 115
Birthday: June 29, 1992
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 201 – July 30, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jessica Andrade – UFC 251 – July 11, 2020
Comment: Rose is finally planning to return to action in a month’s time when she fights the person who took her championship away over a year ago. Namajunas and Jessica Andrade are each coming off losses and the winner can jump right back into the title picture with a win.
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 (9-4)
Height: 5’9
Weight (lbs.): 135
Birthday: April 24, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Anna Elmose – Win via KO (knee) – UFC Fight Night – May 8, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
9) Julia Budd (13-3)
Height: 5’8
Weight (lbs.): 145
Birthday: July 4, 1983
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Marloes Coenen – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 174 – March 3, 2017
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
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
11) Katlyn Chookagian (14-3)
Height: 5’9
Weight (lbs.): 125
Birthday: December 28, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Joanne Calderwood – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 238 – June 8, 2019
– vs. Jessica Eye – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 231 – December 8, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Chookagian was beaten in her first UFC title fight back in February (which seems like a decade ago) by reigning champ Valentina Shevchenko. Almost two weeks ago, she returned to action and defeated the champion’s older sister, Antonina, by unanimous decision.
12) Claudia Gadelha (18-4)
Birthday: December 7, 1988
Height: 5’3
Weight (lbs.): 115
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Angela Hill – Win via decision (split) – UFC on ESPN – May 16, 2020
– vs. Randa Markos – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019
– 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
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
13) Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-0)
Height: 5’4
Weight (lbs.): 125
Birthday: April 2, 1990
Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Kate Jackson – Win via decision (unanimous) – Bellator 236 – December 21, 2019
– vs. Veta Arteaga – Win via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Bellator 220 – April 27, 2019
– vs. Valerie Letourneau – Win via submission (triangle choke) – Bellator 213 – December 15, 2018
– vs. Alejandra Lara – Win via submission (armbar) – Bellator 201 – June 29, 2018
– vs. Emily Ducote – Win via submission (triangle armbar) – Bellator 186 – November 3, 2017
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
15) Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza (16-6)
Height: 5’1
Weight (lbs.): 115
Birthday: October 10, 1987
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Claudia Gadelha – Loss via decision (split) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Marina Rodriguez – UFC Fight Night – July 15, 2020
