Women’s MMA fighters have truly transformed the landscape of mixed martial arts, which was once dominated by men. In the 21st century, women’s MMA fighters have broken barriers and made significant strides in the sport. The rise of women’s MMA gained tremendous momentum over the last decade when female fighters were included in the UFC in 2013, allowing them to compete on a global platform.
These women’s MMA fighters not only met expectations but also exceeded them, challenging stereotypes and elevating the sport to new heights. Today, women’s MMA fighters consistently deliver some of the most thrilling matches and often headline major events.
While women’s MMA may still be relatively young to some fans, there is enough history to recognize the best of the best among women’s MMA fighters. Here is ESPN’s list of the top 10 fighters in the history of women’s MMA fighters:
List of Women’s MMA Fighters and their Key Accomplishments
| Rank | Fighter | Key Accomplishments |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amanda Nunes | UFC featherweight and bantamweight champion, consensus No. 1 pound-for-pound female fighter in the world. |
| 2 | Cris Cyborg | Current Bellator women’s featherweight champion, former champ in the UFC, Strikeforce, and Invicta; only fighter to hold titles in four major promotions. |
| 3 | Ronda Rousey | First UFC women’s bantamweight champion, Hall of Famer, fastest title fight victory in UFC history. |
| 4 | Valentina Shevchenko | Seven-time defending UFC flyweight champion. |
| 5 | Joanna Jędrzejczyk | Former UFC strawweight champion; most title bout wins in division history. |
| 6 | Rose Namajunas | Two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion; first woman to regain a championship after losing it. |
| 7 | Zhang Weili | Two-time UFC strawweight champion, known for her physical fighting style. |
| 8 | Miesha Tate | Former UFC and Strikeforce bantamweight champion; most submission attempts in UFC women’s bantamweight history. |
| 9 | Megumi Fujii | Undefeated in her first 22 pro fights; known for her wrestling and submissions. |
| 10 | Holly Holm | UFC bantamweight champion; three-division boxing champion. |
1. Amanda Nunes
Amanda Nunes retired from mixed martial arts in 2023, having achieved everything as a women’s MMA fighter. She defeated every major title challenger at bantamweight and featherweight, ending her career with a record of 14 wins and 1 loss. Her only defeat came from Julianna Peña in 2022, which she avenged in a stunning comeback. Nunes gained fame by knocking out Ronda Rousey in 2016, and her dominance throughout her career solidifies her status as the greatest female fighter in the history of women’s MMA fighters.
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2. Cris Cyborg
Before Amanda Nunes claimed the title of the greatest women’s MMA fighter, Cris Cyborg was the standout figure in women’s mixed martial arts. Since her debut loss in 2005, she embarked on a remarkable 21-fight unbeaten streak. Cyborg faced Nunes in a thrilling UFC featherweight title fight in 2018, where she was defeated in just 51 seconds.
Although Nunes has retired and Rousey has left the sport, Cyborg continues to compete and has regained the Bellator featherweight title. At 39, she is still eager for new challenges, with her most recent two fights in boxing resulting in knockout victories. However, Cyborg is not done with women’s MMA fighters and frequently reaches out to the PFL for her next fight.
3. Ronda Rousey
UFC CEO Dana White once claimed that women would never compete in the UFC until he witnessed Ronda Rousey’s potential. After her debut, women’s MMA fighters were firmly established in the sport, and Rousey became a prominent celebrity. At her peak, she was considered not just the best women’s fighter but one of the best fighters overall.
After dominating Strikeforce to claim the bantamweight title, Rousey entered UFC 157, becoming one of the biggest attractions in mixed martial arts. Known for her incredible judo and devastating armbar submission, she quickly surpassed her competition. Between 2014 and 2015, Rousey spent just over two minutes in the Octagon across four fights, finishing her opponents with incredible efficiency. Although there were other pioneers before her, none elevated women’s MMA fighters to the heights that Ronda Rousey achieved.
4. Valentina Shevchenko
Few women’s MMA fighters embody the dedication to martial arts like Valentina Shevchenko. Originating from Kyrgyzstan, Shevchenko has traveled the world, aiming for martial arts excellence. Considered one of the best female Muay Thai fighters ever, she holds multiple world titles. Competing for the UFC bantamweight championship in 2017, she nearly defeated Nunes, despite being at a size disadvantage. She then moved to her preferred weight class, flyweight, in 2018, and won nine consecutive fights, including eight title fights.
5. Joanna Jędrzejczyk
While Jędrzejczyk was not the first UFC strawweight champion, she significantly impacted the 115-pound women’s division. She became champion in 2015 by defeating Carla Esparza, who had just won the title. Known as “Joanna Champion,” she successfully defended her title five times, a record for the division. Although she lost the title to Rose Namajunas in 2017, Jędrzejczyk remained a top contender until her retirement two years ago. Her legendary bout with Zhang Weili in 2020 is regarded as one of the greatest fights in women’s MMA history. Recently, she was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
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6. Rose Namajunas
After losing “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 20 to Esparza, few predicted that “Thug Rose” would become one of the top strikers in women’s MMA fighters history. Her journey began in 2017 when she shocked everyone by knocking out Jędrzejczyk to claim the strawweight title, proving her win was no fluke by dominating their rematch. Despite suffering a knockout loss to Jessica Andrade, Namajunas rebounded by defeating Andrade in their rematch and reclaimed her title by defeating Zhang with a stunning head kick knockout. She has now shifted her focus to the flyweight division, aiming to become a two-division champion.
7. Zhang Weili
Zhang Weili is the most accomplished mixed martial artist to emerge from China. Since joining the UFC in 2018, she has established herself as a powerful competitor, with a record of 9 wins and 2 losses, including 6 wins in title fights. Known for her aggressive fighting style, she gained fame in 2023 for effortlessly lifting retired NBA player Shaquille O’Neal off the ground. Zhang has only competed in the strawweight division so far but may seek to capture a second title before her career concludes.
8. Miesha Tate
It may seem unfair that Tate is often remembered as the secondary figure in her rivalry with Rousey. However, Tate was a champion in both the UFC and Strikeforce. Her fierce competition with Rousey played a crucial role in the growth of women’s MMA fighters. Despite losing to Rousey twice, Tate always gave her tough fights. Their rivalry often involved heated exchanges, particularly when they coached against each other on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 18 in 2013, where their feud largely overshadowed the other fighters.
9. Megumi Fujii
Megumi Fujii is often overlooked in discussions about women’s MMA fighters but is recognized as a true pioneer in the sport. Known for her exceptional wrestling skills and submissions, Fujii dominated in Japan before making her Bellator debut in 2010. From 2007 to 2010, she achieved ten consecutive victories, including nine by submission. Though she never won a major championship, Fujii was ahead of her time and made a significant impact on women’s MMA fighters before injuries cut her career short.
10. Holly Holm
Holly Holm is often mentioned among the greatest combat sports athletes of all time. A multiple-time welterweight champion in boxing, she achieved a professional record of 33 wins, 2 losses, and 3 draws, with nine knockouts. After transitioning to mixed martial arts in 2013, Holm quickly became a prominent fighter. She faced Rousey for the UFC title in only her third fight and pulled off one of the biggest upsets in MMA history at a sold-out event in Melbourne, Australia. At age 42, Holm remains a significant contender in the 135-pound rankings and insists she still has much to accomplish in women’s MMA fighters.
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