Female MMA history hasn’t been around for so long compared to the sport of MMA. It has only become a worldwide phenomenon in the last decade. There were women’s MMA fights in Japan in the 90s, and women fought in fighting promotions such as Strikeforce and Bellator at the beginning of the 2000s.
However, the popularity of women’s MMA started to ascend to great heights in 2013 when the UFC announced that women would start to compete in this fighting promotion. Since then, the female MMA world has seen great fighters.
How To Rank The Best Female MMA Fighters?
Four factors will be taken into consideration when it comes to how I’ve ranked the female MMA GOATs:
- MMA Record
- Grappling level
- Striking level
- Signature move
Top 5 Female MMA Fighters
#5 – Ronda Rousey
Record: 12 – 2
Striking overall: ★★★★☆
Grappling overall: ★★★★★
Signature move: Judo throws
You can’t compile a list of the five best women MMA fighters without including Ronda “Rowdy” Rousey. She is a sports pioneer who brought Mixed Martial Arts to mainstream audiences.
Her martial arts background was judo, and she has won an Olympic bronze medal representing the USA. Her judo skills helped her tremendously when she started to compete in the octagon. She dominated all her opponents during her 12-fight win streak.
Ronda has impressively beaten a fair share of superb women UFC fighters, such as Miesha Tate, Sara McMann, Liz Carmouche, and Cat Zingano.
“Rowdy” has broken many records in the UFC, such as:
- Becoming the first female UFC champion
- Most title defenses in the bantamweight division — 6
- Most submissions via armbar — 8
Even though Ronda ended her career with back-to-back losses, no one can deny that she is one of the female MMA GOATs.
#4 – Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Record: 16 – 5
Striking overall: ★★★★★
Grappling overall: ★★★★☆
Signature move: Muay Thai master
A ferocious striker from Poland, Joanna Jedrzejczyk is one of the most exciting female MMA combat athletes of all time. What UFC fans always kept to watch Joanna’s fights were her sharp striking, unreal stamina, and just unwavering willpower to put out a fantastic performance.
She bulldozed through the Strawweight division by winning against fighters like Jessica Andrade, Claudia Gadelha, Carla Esparza, and Michelle Waterson. As a strawweight champion, she defended her title five times and holds the record for the most wins in this division (5).
Although Joanna decided to retire in 2022, she has yet to be dethroned as the strawweight queen.
#3 – Valentina Shevchenko
Record: 23 – 4 – 1
Striking overall: ★★★★★
Grappling overall: ★★★★☆
Signature move: Sharp leg kicks
Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko is considered one of the best and most dominant female MMA fighters in the UFC flyweight division. Before she started to compete in MMA, Valentina was a world champion in two separate martial arts, kickboxing and Muay Thai.
In the octagon, she uses her high fighting IQ, lighting – fast and precise strikes to beat her opponents. Being quick and destructive is for which she got her nickname, “Bullet.”
Valentina has become the first-ever UFC flyweight champion after beating Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Moreover, she pulled off outstanding wins against female combat athletes such as Holly Holm, Sarah Kaufman, Julianna Pena, Liz Carmouche, etc. Valentina has 8 title defenses as the flyweight UFC champion and held the belt for 1,547 days. Only Amanda Nunes had a longer title reign.
She still has much to prove in the UFC, and one day, she can climb the ladder of the best female MMA fighters.
#2 – Cris “Cyborg”
Record: 27 – 2, 1 NC
Striking overall: ★★★★★
Grappling overall: ★★★★★
Signature move: Brawler
Cris “Cyborg” Justino is undoubtedly one of the most brutal female MMA fighters in the world. Her natural muscular build combined with knockout power strikes makes her truly a dominant force when she fights. Besides being able to strike, she also has a strong BJJ background, having won multiple world championships.
“Cyborg” has become a champion in four different MMA organizations, including Invicta, StrikeForce, UFC, and Bellator. Throughout her career, Cris has defeated many female MMA fighters, such as Holly Holm, Gina Carano, Cat Zingano, etc.
“Cyborg” is now a Bellator featherweight champion and still dominates the female MMA world.
#1 – Amanda Nunes
Record: 23 – 5
Striking overall: ★★★★★
Grappling overall: ★★★★★
Signature move: Power puncher
Definitely, Amanda Nunes is the best female fighter in MMA history. “The Lioness” has cemented her legacy as the female MMA GOAT after becoming the first woman to win titles in two divisions—featherweight and bantamweight.
She is known for being a power puncher who throws her strikes with immaculate precision. In addition to being outstanding in the striking department, she is also an impressive grappler with a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Nunes is a rare fighter who has no flaws.
She had many accolades during her career and has beaten women UFC champions like Holly Holm, Valentina Shevchenko, Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, and Cris Cyborg. No female fighter has a resume like Amanda.
Her records include:
- Most title fights (10)
- Holding a title for the longest time (1,981 days)
Nunes retired in June 2023, ending her career as a two-division champion and the undisputed female MMA GOAT.
Honorable Mentions
- Rose Namajunas is a vicious striker and two-time UFC strawweight champion who defeated strawweight UFC champions like Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Zhang Weili. Her record is 11 – 6.
- Gina Carano — many fans consider her the face of modern MMA. She got a 7-win streak and retired after her first loss against Cris “Cyborg.
- Holly Holm was the bantamweight UFC champion, winning impressively over fighters like Irene Aldana, Ronda Rousey, and Raquel Pennington. At 42, she is still active.
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