Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Women’s Bantamweight

1. Ronda Rousey (12-0)

Rousey knocked out previously unbeaten Bethe Correia in just 34 seconds on Aug. 1 to retain the UFC women’s bantamweight title, as well as the title of the sport’s top pound-for-pound female. While the UFC has begun scraping the barrel for contenders to Rousey’s throne, the results speak for themselves: “Rowdy” has taken out her last three challengers in a combined 64 seconds. Rousey will take on the undefeated Holly Holm in the UFC 193 headliner on Nov. 15 in Australia.

2. Cat Zingano (9-1)

Like all those before her, Zingano was touted as UFC superstar Ronda Rousey’s toughest challenger to date. The Colorado native wound up as the champ’s quickest victim yet, as an ill-advised flying knee got Zingano caught in a straight armbar after only 14 seconds. However, given Zingano’s impressive and previously unblemished résumé -- with wins over Miesha Tate, Amanda Nunes and Carina Damm -- she figures to get another top-10 opponent when she returns.

3. Miesha Tate (17-5)

In a high-stakes bout with Jessica Eye on July 25, Tate once again overcame a slow start and used her well-rounded skill set to claw her way back into the fight. Tagged with punches at the beginning of the bout, Tate floored Eye late in the opening round and never looked back, claiming a unanimous decision after three rounds. While Tate appeared to be in line for a third crack at women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, those plans have changed and the “Rowdy” one has since been matched with Holly Holm.

4. Alexis Davis (17-6)

Eight years after their first meeting and three years after their second, Davis finally got revenge on old rival Sarah Kaufman with a second-round armbar at UFC 186. The bout was Davis’ first appearance since being punched out in 16 seconds by reigning bantamweight queen Ronda Rousey in July 2014, and the victory brings her UFC record to 4-1. The Canadian recently announced she was pregnant and was taking an indefinite leave from the MMA scene.

5. Amanda Nunes (11-4)

Nunes proved the bookmakers wrong on Aug. 8, when she tore through former title challenger Sara McMann in under three minutes, using potent strikes to set up a rear-naked choke submission. Two years into her Octagon career, the Brazilian’s UFC ledger stands at 4-1, making her an exciting and suddenly viable option in a division starving for new contenders.

6. Sara McMann (8-3)

McMann had surprisingly little to offer Amanda Nunes, as the Olympic wrestler succumbed to a first-round rear-naked choke from the “Lioness” in their brief Aug. 8 encounter. It was the first submission loss in 11 pro fights for McMann, who finds herself on the first losing streak of her career after back-to-back defeats at the hands of Nunes and Miesha Tate.

7. Tonya Evinger (16-5)

Nine years into her career, Evinger has finally found a home on the big stage. The 34-year-old Missouri native captured the vacant Invicta bantamweight title on June 9 with a four-round beatdown of Mexican upstart Irene Aldana and then defended the belt on Sept. 12 with a quicker battering of Pannie Kianzad. Evinger will enter her next title defense riding a career-high eight-fight winning streak.

8. Sarah Kaufman (17-3, 1 NC)

At UFC 186, Kaufman could not do what she had done twice before: beat Alexis Davis. After roughing up Davis with punches in the opening frame, the 29-year-old Canadian was submitted with a second-round armbar -- the submission now responsible for all three losses on Kaufman’s record. The defeat moves her to 1-1 with one no-contest inside the Octagon. Kaufman will be back in action at UFC on Fox 17 in December, when she squares off with Germaine de Randamie in Orlando, Fla.

9. Jessica Eye (11-3, 1 NC)

Eye started strong in her July 25 meeting with Miesha Tate, using her vaunted boxing skills to crack the former title challenger with combinations. After being dropped late in round one, however, the Ohioan was gradually overwhelmed by Tate’s striking and takedowns en route to a unanimous decision loss. Having entered the UFC on a seven-fight winning streak, Eye’s Octagon record now stands at 1-2 with one no-contest. She will take on Julianna Pena at UFC 192 on Oct. 3.

10. Holly Holm (9-0)

Following a lackluster UFC debut, Holm had something to prove in her sophomore Octagon appearance on July 15. The former boxing champ’s striking superiority was on full display against Marion Reneau, whom Holm kept on the end of her punches and kicks for three rounds en route to a unanimous decision. The Jackson-Wink MMA standout will challenge Ronda Rousey for the UFC women’s bantamweight championship at UFC 193 on Nov. 15.

Other Contenders: Liz Carmouche, Bethe Correia, Pannie Kianzad, Julianna Pena, Marion Reneau.

Continue Reading » Women’s Strawweight