Top 10 Female UFC Fighters of all Time

The top 10 female UFC fighters of all time includes many active fighters, but spotting the best UFC fighter is not always so simple. With a roster of over 200 talented, female MMA fighters, it can be difficult to stand out in an ocean of world class competition. Fighters are constantly on the rise and new contenders are eager to prove themselves.

These are 10 of the top standouts that have entertained the masses while dominating their divisions. So, who are the top 10 female UFC fighters of all time? Check below to find out.

Top 10 Female UFC Fighters of all Time

#10 Amanda Lemos (13-2-1)

nickname: “Amandinha”
origin: Brazil
division: Strawweight
born: May 22, 1987

Currenly ranked in at #7 in the massively talented women’s strawweight division, Lemos holds notable wins Michelle Waterson and more recently her 3rd round KO/TKO win over Marina Rodriguez, dropping her from the 10th position in this list.

Recently added into the UFC top 10 women’s pound for pound rankings, she has secured her place. She would likely have been on this list had it not been for Jessica Andrade stopping her momentum with a beautiful standing arm triangle submission. Before the submission, we had Lemos winning that fight. Lemos is a force to be reckoned with and will likely continue to climb this list.

#9 Carla Esparza (19-6-0)

nickname: “Cookie Monster”
origin: Torrance, CA
division: Strawweight
born: Oct 10, 1987

Having beaten Rose Namajunes for the Strawweight Championship, at UFC 274, Carla Esparza is the UFC’s #6 ranked pound for pound fighter and current Strawweight champion. Carla has won her last six straight bouts, and secured a decision win over the former champion, at UFC 274 on May 7th, 2022.

Carla Esparza is the first UFC women’s Strawweight Champion, the first Invicta FC Strawweight Champion, an Ultimate Fighter contestant, and a competitor in the first Bellator women’s tournament. She is known for strong wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. An obvious contender for the best female fighter under any promotion.

#8 Zhang Weili (21-3-0)

nickname: “Magnum”
origin: Handan, China
division: Strawweight
born: August 13, 1989

Zhang Weili is the first UFC Chinese champion, the former Strawweight Champion, and the #1 contender in the Strawweight division. She has a strong record at 21-3-0, though she has recently lost to Namajunas, by split decision, who she defeated by knockout just months prior. A rubber band match is in order before the rankings between these two fighters can be definitive.

Zhang Weili is ranked #5 on the UFC pound for pound rating and it’s easy to see why after her brutal KO victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk. A couple more performances like that and Zhang Weili could end up holding the belt and shaking up these rankings.

#7 Holly Holm (14-5-0)

nickname: “The Preacher’s Daughter”
origin: Albuquerque, NM
division: Bantamweight
born: October, 17, 1981

Holly Holm is the UFC’s #9 pound for pound contender, and the #3 ranked Bantamweight, behind Nunes, Pena and now Vieira (see Fight Night results here). She is known for putting a stop to the domination that Ronda Rousey had in the division. Holly Holm has even been inducted into the International boxing hall of fame.

This southpaw currently fights out of Jackson Wink MMA Academy. She has racked up awards in boxing, kickboxing and MMA alike. At one time she has held the UFC Bantamweight championship and the Legacy FC Women’s Bantamweight championship.

#6 Ronda Rousey (12-2)

nickname: “Rowdy”
origin: Riverside, CA USA
division: Bantamweight
born: February 1, 1987

Ronda Rousey is the first, and currently the only, female UFC Hall of Famer. She is a Judo and submission specialist who finished every one of her victories by way of submission or knockout. Ronda Rousey has been the perfect storm of charisma and talent that has helped catapult the fandom for women’s mixed martial arts. She held the Bantamweight belt for 3 years, defending it an impressive seven times.

In addition to Ronda’s impressive MMA career, she was an Olympic judo competitor and has even held a title in the WWE. She played a large part in getting women’s MMA where it is today, which is another reason Ronda has earned her spot as one of the top 10 female UFC fighters of all time.

#5 Jessica Andrade (22-9-0)

nickname: “Bate Estaca”
origin: Umuarama, Brazil
division: Strawweight
born: Sept 25, 1991

Jessica Andrade is #6 on the pound for pound list in the UFC. She has notable wins over many of the talented fighters in her division, including a second-round knockout of Namajunas,a first round KO/TKO over #11 ranked Cynthia Calvillo and now the first ever standing arm triangle submission over #10 ranked Amanda Lemos.

This Brazilian MMA veteran is a Muay Thai specialist who has stopped her opponents in 17 of her 22 victories. It would be no surprise to anyone if she were to have another title shot in this stacked, Strawweight division.

#4 Julianna Pena (12-5-0)

nickname: “The Venezuelan Vixen”
origins: Spokane, WA
division: bantamweight
born: August 19, 1989

Julianna Pena is the UFC #4 pound for pound contender and the current Bantamweight champion.  Pena is still a no brainer for one of the top UFC women fighters. Pena boasts wins over Cat Zingano, and Amanda Nunes in December 11, 2021 at UFC 269 by submission. One of her losses came by none other than the UFC’s pound for pound champion pick Amanda Shevchenko and another from our pound for pound best Amanda Nunes. 

With most of her fights being won by KO or submission, Julianna Pena is a headliner worth tuning in for. Most recently she has secured a second round submission win over Amanda Nunes, which Nunes has since avenged, securing her place as one of the UFC’s best fighters.

#3 Rose Namajunas (12-4-0)

nickname: “Thug”
origin: Milwaukee, WI
division: Strawweight
born: June 29,1992

Rose Namajunas has won 8 of her 13 fights by way of stoppage.  She is a two time champion in her Strawweight division. She is currently the #4 UFC ranked pound for pound fighter, and she has notable wins over tough talented fighters like Zhang and Andrade.  

Recently, Rose lost the Strawweight championship to Carla Esparza, the #2 ranked challenger at the time, on May 7^th 2022. The fight was a lack luster affair and the decision loss had more to do with a flaw in the scoring system than in proving the better fighter of the night. Thug Rose is a great fighter with a bright future in the sport and undoubtedly one of the top 10 female UFC fighters of all time.

#2 Valentina Shevchenko (22-3-0)

nickname: “Bullet”
origin: Kyrgyz, Peruvian, Russian
division: flyweight
born: March 7, 1988

Valentina Shevchenko, at the time of this writing, was ranked the UFC women’s Pound for Pound #1 and the current UFC Flyweight champion. With an impressive 23-3 record, Valentina has won all of her last 9 fights, with 7 title defenses. She has a kickboxing style with a precise counter ability that makes her a hard opponent to deal with.

Though she has suffered three losses in the UFC, only two fighters have been able to solve this riddle. She has lost two decisions to Amanda Nunes, however, since then she has been running through her division. With nearly half of her wins coming by way of knockout. Shevchenko has earned her fandom and we find it hard to disagree. Which is why she remains our pick for the best female UFC fighter.

#1 Amanda Nunes (22-5-0)

nickname: “The Lioness”
origin: Pojuca
division: Featherweight
born: May 30, 1988

Amanda Nunes, at the time of this writing, is the UFC second ranked pound for pound fighter and the current Featherweight Champion. She has defeated Valentina Shevchenko twice. Once at UFC 196 on March 5, 2016, and again on September 9, 2017.

Nunes has been steamrolling competitors in her division for nearly a decade. With wins over Meisha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Chris Cyborg, Holly Holm, and two wins over the UFC’s pound for pound best female fighter, Valentina Shevchenko, Amanda Nunes would seem the obvious case for the best female MMA fighter of all time. After avenging her only recent loss, to Julianna Pena, Nunes has left all doubters speechless.

That’s it for the top 10 Female UFC Fighters of all time. Feel like we’re missing someone? Feel free to give us your list or argue the legitimacy of ours. Thank you for choosing The MMA Beatdown for your source for Mixed Martial Arts news.