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411 MMA Rankings 08.14.18: Women’s Pound for Pound – Amanda Nunes, Cyborg, More
411’s MMA Rankings
Pound For Pound
1) Cris “Cyborg” Justino (20-1, 1 NC)
Height: 5’8
Weight (lbs.): 145
Birthday: July 9, 1985
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Leslie Smith – Win via TKO (strikes) – UFC 198 – May 14, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Cyborg’s dominance over the sport has continued into 2018 and there are no signs of the featherweight champion slowing down. In fact, her biggest fight since the 2009 win over Gina Carano may be on the horizon. ESPN reports the UFC intends to book a featherweight title fight pitting Cyborg against reigning bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes for the December 29th UFC 232 show in Las Vegas. It’s not official just yet, but could be signed and announced any week now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty_UgW6uMTs
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
– vs. Paige VanZant – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC Fight Night – December 10, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Namajunas topped Joanna Jedrzejczyk for a second time in the spring, and doing it by unanimous decision instead of a knockout like she did last year. The two wins cement Rose as the class of the strawweight division and she’s apparently waiting to see who her next challenger may be. Such a fighter may be determined after UFC 228 when Jessica Andrade fights Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
3) “The Lioness” Amanda Nunes (16-4)
Birthday: May 30, 1988
Height: 5’8
Weight (lbs.): 135
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Valentina Shevchenko – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz – March 5, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Is it possible to clear out a division after defending a championship just three times? Amanda Nunes may be there right now. She just finished Raquel Pennington in the spring to win her seventh consecutive fight and until a rising challenger takes hold of the top contender spot, you can understand why she’s likely to move up and fight featherweight champion Cris Cyborg.
4) Joanna Jedrzejczyk (15-2)
Height: 5’6
Weight (lbs.): 115
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 205: Alvares vs. McGregor – November 12, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Joanna’s losing streak ended at two fights with her win two weeks ago against Tecia Torres on Fox. She’s controversially refusing to view Rose Namajunas as the best fighter in the division, believing that she herself remains that person. In spite of being 0-2 in fights against the current champion, Joanna’s confidence is palpable. She will have to win at least two more fights before there’s any consideration for a third fight, so don’t think that is guaranteed at all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFsnFYSl8Xo
5) Jessica Andrade (18-6)
Height: 5’2
Weight (lbs.): 115
Birthday: September 25, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
vs. Joanne Calderwood – Win via submission (guillotine choke) – UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem – September 10, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018
Comment: Andrade will look to earn her second UFC title fight, but she must stop Karolina Kowalkiewicz to do that. At strawweight, Jessica has been a wrecking ball toppling contenders left and right, only losing to Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The loser of this fight at UFC 228 will go back to the proverbial drawing board, so there’s no pressure.
6) Claudia Gadelha (16-3)
Birthday: December 7, 1988
Height: 5’3
Weight (lbs.): 115
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC TUF 23 Finale – July 8, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
7) Valentina Shevchenko (15-3)
Height: 5’5
Weight (lbs.): 125
Birthday: March 7, 1988
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Amanda Nunes – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 196 – March 5, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Nicco Montano – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018
Comment: Shevchenko made her 125-pound flyweight debut in February and choked out undefeated Priscila Cachoeira. Now, she will challenge the first ever UFC flyweight champion in Nicco Montano next month. Remember, Valentina went five rounds with bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes last year and now she’s looking to win her first UFC title at 125.
8) Livia Renata Souza (11-1)
Height: 5’4
Weight (lbs.): 115
Birthday: March 11, 1991
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Katja Kankaanpaa – Win via submission (triangle choke) – Invicta FC 12: Kankaanpaa vs. Souza – April 24, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Alex Chambers – UFC Fight Night – September 22, 2018
9) Raquel Pennington (9-6)
Birthday: September 5, 1988
Height: 5’7
Weight (lbs.): 135
Currently fighting with: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Amanda Nunes – Loss via TKO (strikes) – UFC 224 – May 12, 2018
– vs. Miesha Tate – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 205 – November 12, 2016
– vs. Elizabeth Phillips – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC 202 – August 20, 2016
– vs. Bethe Correia – Win via decision (split) – UFC on Fox – April 16, 2016
– vs. Jessica Andrade – Win via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 191 – September 9, 2015
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
10) Karolina Kowalkiewicz (12-2)
Height: 5’3
Weight (lbs.): 115
Birthday: October 15, 1985
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– vs. Felice Herrig – Win via decision (split) – UFC 223 – April 7, 2018
– vs. Jodie Esquibel – Win via decision (unanimous) – UFC Fight Night – October 21, 2017
– vs. Claudia Gadelha – Loss via submission (rear naked choke) – UFC 212 – June 3, 2017
– vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk – Loss via decision (unanimous) – UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor – November 12, 2016
– vs. Rose Namajunas – Win via decision (split) – UFC 201 – July 30, 2016
Next scheduled appearance:
– vs. Jessica Andrade – UFC 228 – September 8, 2018
Comment: As a strawweight, Karolina is 7-2, lost to then Joanna Champion and Claudia Gadelha but has won her last two fights. Thanks in part to Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s two losses, this fight between Kowalkiewicz and Andrade may very well decide the next title challenger in the division.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXt718YDBY4
11) 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
12) 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:
– vs. Tonya Evinger – UFC Fight Night – September 22, 2018
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
Comment: Maia was Invicta’s flyweight champion before she left to sign with the UFC earlier this year. Unfortunately for her, she dropped her debut to Liz Carmouche by decision. She’ll look to bounce back later this year and get back in the title chase.
14) Germaine de Randamie (7-3)
Height: 5’9
Weight (lbs.): 135
Birthday: April 24, 1984
Currently Fighting With: UFC
Last 5 fights:
– 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
– vs. Julie Kedzie – Win via decision (split) – UFC on Fox – July 27, 2013
Next scheduled appearance:
– Unknown
Comment: Randamie is apparently healthy after a hand injury cost her most of 2017 and half of this year. On Twitter last month, she called out Raquel Pennington for a fight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I9wOQIQ74A
15) 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
Comment: ONE atomweight champion Angela Lee turned 22-years-old last month on the heels of her third title defense in the spring.