Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Women’s Strawweight

1. Carla Esparza (19-6) | UFC [4]

More than seven years after becoming the UFC’s inaugural strawweight title holder, Esparza can call her herself a champion again following a split-decision triumph over Rose Namajunas in the UFC 274 co-main event. It may have been one of the least compelling fights in recent memory but don’t tell that to Esparza, who has won six straight outings and is 2-0 against “Thug” Rose. To top it all off, “Cookie Monster” will have a shiny belt to bring to her wedding, which takes place one week after UFC 274.

2. Rose Namajunas (11-5) | UFC [1]

Namajunas gave one of the most perplexing performances by a defending champion in recent memory, as she refused to engage for the majority of 25 minutes against Carla Esparza in a split decision loss in the UFC 274 co-main event. Though Esparza didn’t do much to force the issue, the “Cookie Monster” did just enough to get the nod from two cageside judges and improve to 2-0 against “Thug” Rose. In the aftermath, Namajunas was adamant that she did enough to deserve the victory, but after such a forgettable fight, it’s hard to envision the UFC being eager to book a trilogy anytime soon.

3. Weili Zhang (21-3) | UFC [2]

Zhang had a far better showing the second time around against Rose Namajunas, but she nonetheless wound up on the wrong end of the scorecards in a split decision loss in the UFC 268 co-main event. While it wasn’t nearly as discouraging as a head kick KO defeat, Zhang falls to 0-2 against Namajunas, which means she may need another champion to be crowned to be a factor in the title picture anytime soon. Regardless, the 32-year-old Chinese standout is well established as one of the top 115-pound talents in the sport and will be a tough out for most anyone in the division. Next, Zhang will run it back against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 275 in a rematch of one of the greatest women’s bouts of all-time.

4. Jessica Andrade (23-9) | UFC [3]

After a three-bout stint at 125 pounds that saw her fail in a bid to capture championship gold against Valentina Shevchenko, Andrade made an impressive return to strawweight with a first-round submission of surging contender Amanda Lemos in the UFC Fight Night 205 main event on April 23. Not only did Andrade reassert herself as a person of interest in the division, but she also authored the first standing arm-triangle choke submission in the history of the Las Vegas-based promotion. Andrade is one of the most accomplished fighters in UFC history, with 14 career wins ranging from 115 to 135 pounds.

5. Marina Rodriguez (16-1-2) | UFC [5]

Rodriguez shook off a slow start to edge Xiaonan Yan via split decision in their strawweight clash at UFC 272 on March 5 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Brazilian muay Thai specialist has won four fights in a row dating back to January 2021 and could be in line to face the winner of the 115-pound title clash between Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza down the road.

6. Xiaonan Yan (15-3, 1 NC) | UFC [6]

Yan started quickly in her matchup against Marina Rodriguez at UFC 272, but the Chinese strawweight slowed just enough down the stretch to allow her Brazilian foe to capture a split decision at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 5. After beginning her promotional tenure with six consecutive triumphs, the China Top Team representative has dropped back-to-back fights to Rodriguez and Carla Esparza.

7. Amanda Ribas (11-2) | UFC [7]

Ribas shook off a slow start to pull away over the final 10 minutes for a unanimous decision triumph over Virna Jandiroba at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 30. The bubbly Marcelo Ribas Team representative rebounded from a January TKO defeat to Marina Rodriguez and has been victorious in five of her six appearances within the Las Vegas-based promotion. After a showdown with Michelle Waterson at UFC 274 fell through, Ribas will move up to 125 pounds to take on Katlyn Chookagian on May 14.

8. Mackenzie Dern (12-2) | UFC [8]

Dern blended grappling with aggressive forward movement to capture a somewhat controversial split-decision victory over Tecia Torres at UFC 273 on April 9. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt still has plenty of progress to make in other aspects of her game, but she showed just how dangerous she can be when she nearly trapped Torres in a pair of tight submission in the second round of their strawweight clash. The 29-year-old Arizona resident has won five of her last six UFC bouts and should be in line for another ranked opponent in her next appearance.

9. Tecia Torres (13-6) | UFC [9]

Torres showcased composure under fire as she survived a couple harrowing positions in the second round of her UFC 273 clash with Mackenzie Dern, but ultimately “The Tiny Tornado” wound up on the wrong end of the scorecards in a contentious split-decision defeat. That snaps a three-bout winning streak for the American Top Team export, who has rebounded admirably from a four-fight skid suffered from February 2018 to August 2019.

10. Michelle Waterson (18-9) | UFC [10]

Waterson was game as usual in a makeshift 125-pound headliner against Marina Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN 24, dropping a hard-fought unanimous verdict in May 2021. Since it was a division above her normal class, the setback didn’t adversely affect Waterson’s standing at strawweight. “The Karate Hottie” has lost three of her last four in UFC competition. A proposed clash with Amanda Ribas at UFC 274 was nixed when Waterson suffered a potentially career-threatening injury.

Other Contenders: Virna Jandiroba, Amanda Lemos, Seo Hee Ham, Angela Lee, Nong Stamp Fairtex.

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