mma / Columns
411 Women’s Pound for Pound MMA Rankings: Amanda Nunes, Weili Zhang, 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 had been set to defend the featherweight title against Megan Anderson at UFC 256 next month but the champ suffered an injury. Instead, the fight is expected to happen early next year. Regardless of what happens in that fight, it sounds like the UFC is looking at a trilogy fight between Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko, too.
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:
– Unknown
Comment: Shevchenko retained the flyweight championship Saturday night with another dominant showing as she won a unanimous decision against Jennifer Maia, her fourth consecutive title defense.
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
Comment: Zhang’s team is under the impression that Rose Namajunas will be next in line for champion Weili. No fight is signed and there’s no public word on when a fight may happen.
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:
– Unknown
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:
– Unknown
Comment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCatIrfyK2w
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
Comment: Jedrzejczyk returned to American Top Team in Florida for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit. She had been in Poland for most of the year, but is back training with her team.
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:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bfd_mi0a9g
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 (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:
– Unknown
Comment:
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:
– Unknown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBF-Or2NWt8
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:
– vs. Juliana Velasquez – Bellator 254 – December 10, 2020
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 (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:
– Unknown
