mma / Columns

411 Women’s Pound for Pound MMA Rankings: Valentina Shevchenko, Amanda Nunes, More

September 14, 2021 | Posted by Jonathan Solomon

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:

– vs. Julianna Pena – UFC 269 – December 11, 2021

Comment: Following a positive COVID test earlier in the summer, Nunes’ latest title defense against Julianna Pena was pushed to the end of the year. Now, Nunes will make her first bantamweight title defense in two years at UFC 269. The division is not as stout as it once was with most of the challengers struggling to separate themselves from the pack. The closest fighter to do just that – Julianna Pena.



2) Valentina Shevchenko (21-3)

Height: 5’5

Weight (lbs.): 125

Birthday: March 7, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Jessica Andrade – Win via TKO (elbows) – UFC 261 – April 24, 2021

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Lauren Murphy – UFC 266 – September 25, 2021

Comment: If not for Amanda Nunes, Shevchenko would get credit for being among the best two fighters of this generation. Instead, she’s in the discussion, but certainly beyond Nunes. We’re coming up on three years since she won the flyweight championship and her fight with Lauren Murphy later this month may become her sixth consecutive title defense.



3) Rose “Thug” Namajunas (10-4)

Height: 5’5

Weight (lbs.): 115

Birthday: June 29, 1992

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Weili Zhang – Win via KO (head kick) – UFC 261 – April 24, 2021

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Weili Zhang – UFC 268 – November 6, 2021



4) Weili Zhang (21-2)

Height: 5’4

Weight (lbs.): 115

Birthday: August 13, 1989

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Rose Namajunas – Loss via KO (head kick) – UFC 261 – April 24, 2021

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Rose Namajunas – UFC 268 – November 6, 2021



5) Cris “Cyborg” Justino (24-2, 1 NC)

Height: 5’8

Weight (lbs.): 145

Birthday: July 9, 1985

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Leslie Smith – Win via TKO (strikes) – Bellator 259 – May 21, 2021

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown




6) 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



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) Julia Budd (15-3)

Height: 5’8

Weight (lbs.): 145

Birthday: July 4, 1983

Currently Fighting With: Free Agent

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Dayana Silva – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 256 – April 9, 2021

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



9) Jessica Andrade (21-9)

Height: 5’2

Weight (lbs.): 115

Birthday: September 25, 1991

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Valentina Shevchenko – Loss via TKO (elbows) – UFC 261 – April 24, 2021

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Cynthia Calvillo – UFC 266 – September 25, 2021



10) Katlyn Chookagian (15-4)

Height: 5’9

Weight (lbs.): 125

Birthday: December 28, 1988

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Viviane Araujo – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 262 – May 15, 2021

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



11) Kayla Harrison (11-0)

Birthday: July 2, 1990

Height: 5’8

Weight (lbs.): 155

Currently fighting with: PFL

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Genah Fabian – Win via TKO (strikes) – PFL 8 2021 – August 19, 2021

– vs. Cindy Dandois – Win via submission (armbar) – PFL 6 2021 – June 25, 2021

– vs. Mariana Morais – Win via TKO (strikes) – PFL 3 2021 – May 6, 2021

– vs. Courtney King – Win via TKO (strikes) – Invicta FC 43 – November 20, 2020

– vs. Larissa Pacheco – Win via decision (unanimous) – PFL 2019 Championships – December 31, 2019

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Taylor Guardado – PFL – October 27, 2021




12) Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza (18-6)

Height: 5’1

Weight (lbs.): 115

Birthday: October 10, 1987

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Xiaonan Yan – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC Fight Night – May 22, 2021

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown



13) Tatiana Suarez (8-0)

Height: 5’5

Weight (lbs.): 115

Birthday: December 19, 1990

Currently Fighting With: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Nina Nunes – 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



14) Holly Holm (14-5)

Birthday: October 17, 1981

Height: 5’8

Weight (lbs.): 145

Currently fighting with: UFC

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Irene Aldana – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC on ESPN – October 3, 2020

– vs. Raquel Pennington – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 246 – January 18, 2020

– vs. Amanda Nunes – Loss via TKO (head kick and strikes) – UFC 239 – July 6, 2019

– vs. Megan Anderson – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 225 – June 9, 2018

– vs. Cris Cyborg – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 219 – December 30, 2017

Next scheduled appearance:

– vs. Norma Dumont – UFC Fight Night – October 16, 2021



15) Juliana Velasquez (12-0)

Height: 5’6

Weight (lbs.): 125

Birthday: October 19, 1986

Currently Fighting With: Bellator MMA

Last 5 fights:

– vs. Denise Kielholtz – Win via decision (split) – Bellator 262 – July 16, 2021

– 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

Next scheduled appearance:

– Unknown