Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Women’s Featherweight

1. Cristiane Justino (17-1, 1 NC)

Despite her dust-up with Angela Magana, UFC women's featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie refusal to fight her and seeing her desired fight with Invicta champ Megan Anderson fall apart, “Cyborg” is still going to be back in the Octagon soon. Justino had taken to calling out Anderson for a bout at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California, but Anderson was then announced for Invicta 24 on July 15. Nonetheless, UFC President Dana White says Justino will stay on the UFC's July 29 card against a yet-to-be-named opponent.

2. Julia Budd (10-2)

Bellator MMA crowned Budd its first women’s featherweight champion on March 3. The British Columbia native was too big and too physical for MMA pioneer Marloes Coenen, as “The Jewel” battered the Dutch fighter to a fourth-round stoppage and into retirement following the bout.

3. Megan Anderson (8-2)

With charisma and a growing string of scintillating knockouts, Anderson is due for some big-fight exposure. It looked like it might happen when she and Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino both pushed to square off at UFC 214 on July 29 in Anaheim, California. The 27-year-old Australian will have to wait for the UFC blessing, but until then, she will still get an intriguing matchup next time out, defending the Invicta featherweight title against talented-but-untested Ukrainian Helena Kolesnyk on July 15.

4. Germaine de Randamie (7-3)

First, de Randamie seemed unwilling to defend the UFC women's featherweight crown against Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino due to an injured hand that may require surgery. As weeks and months rolled on, “The Iron Lady” and her management then stated that de Randamie had obligations as a Dutch police officer that would keep her out of the cage for a moment. In the latest twist, de Randamie said that while she still sought additional treatment for her hand, she was more inclined to return to 135 pounds and had no interest in ever facing Justino, whom she labeled a steroid cheat.

5. Charmaine Tweet (9-6)

Tweet’s sensational spinning back fist knockout of the previously unbeaten Latoya Walker last May earned her a crack at the interim Invicta featherweight title on Jan. 14. However, in the main event of Invicta 21, the Saskatchewan, Canada, native was head kicked and knocked out by rising stalwart Megan Anderson. Tweet’s last three losses have come to divisional standouts Anderson, Cristiane Justino and Julia Budd.

6. Arlene Blencowe (9-6)

Given the thin nature of the women's featherweight division, fighting frequently can be difficult. Case in point: Australia's Blencowe only got to fight once in 2016. Perhaps heartened by losing a competitive majority decision to divisional No. 2 Julia Budd in October, Blencowe has found a way to stay active. In January, she earned a 68-second knockout over Janay Harding. She then dropped to 135 pounds and traveled to China to knock out Tasmania's Rhiannon Thompson in the first round on April 15. Now, “Angerfist” has taken to calling out both Bethe Correia and Cristiane Justino, looking to land a major bout in the UFC, whether it is at 135 or 145 pounds.

7. Helena Kolesnyk (5-0, 1 NC)

Ukraine's Kolesnyk finally looked like she was ready to take a step up in opposition by facing Iony Razafiarison on May 20 in Germany, but their bout at Superior Fighting Championship 17 fell apart when Kolesnyk missed weight. However, being a telegenic, exciting fighter has its benefits, as evidenced by the fact that “Pretty Helena” has parlayed her gaffe on the scales into an Invicta title shot against champion Megan Anderson in the Invicta 24 headliner on July 15 in Kansas City, Missouri.

8. Amanda Bell (4-4)

While Bell's .500 mark as a pro is perhaps indicative of the lack of depth at 145 pounds, it is also a function of her consistently fighting quality opposition. This goes back to her amateur days. After topping Gabrielle Holloway in February, Bell will make her Bellator MMA debut against a woman Holloway recently upset, meeting UFC veteran Alexis Dufresne on July 14 in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

9. Gabrielle Holloway (6-5)

The 145-pound focus at Bellator 174 was the inaugural women’s title bout between Julia Budd and Marloes Coenen in the main event. Nonetheless, on the undercard, Holloway earned the biggest win of her pro career, as she broke a two-fight skid by pounding out UFC veteran Alexis Dufresne in the second round. As a result, she figures to be a contender in Bellator’s nascent women’s featherweight division.

10. Ediane Gomes (11-4)

In search of her first win in over four years, Gomes returned to the featherweight division after going 0-2 at 135 pounds. “India” made the most of the chance, soundly besting the tough Pam Sorenson over 15 minutes at Invicta 23 and putting herself back on the map at 145 pounds.

Other Contenders: Martyna Czech, Amber Leibrock, Leah Letson, Jessica Miele, Iony Razafiarison.

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