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. Only one of Rousey’s 15 opponents in MMA has made it out of the first round, and Miesha Tate will get a chance to do it again when the pair meet for a third time later this year.

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 in short order.

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 and, with it, another shot at old rival Ronda Rousey.

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.

5. Sara McMann (8-2)

McMann could not have gotten off to a better start at UFC 183, as she sent fellow contender Miesha Tate to the ground with a thunderous right hand. However, following a dominant opening round, the fight slipped away from the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, who was forced to fend off submissions and could not get off her back in the latter rounds. After starting her career with seven straight wins, McMann has dropped two of her last three outings against Tate and Ronda Rousey. The 34-year-old will be back in the cage on Aug. 8, as she takes on Amanda Nunes at a UFC Fight Night event in Tennessee.

6. 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.

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, running Evinger’s current winning streak to a career-high seven straight.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Marion Reneau (6-2)

Reneau got off to a hot start in the UFC with impressive wins over Jessica Andrade and Alexis Dufresne in a span of 51 days, but the full-time school teacher bit off more than she could chew against Holly Holm on July 15. “The Belizean Bruiser” struggled to find offense against the rangy striker and came up on the wrong end of a three-round unanimous decision.

Other Contenders: Jessica Andrade, Liz Carmouche, Bethe Correia, Amanda Nunes, Julianna Pena.

Continue Reading » Women’s Strawweight