Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a combat sport that has gained popularity over the years, and with it, many female athletes have risen to the top of the sport. In this article, we will be taking a look at the top 10 greatest female MMA fighters of all time, based on their accomplishments in the octagon, their impact on the sport, and their overall legacy.
1. Ronda Rousey
Name: Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey UFC Record: 12-2-0
Born: February 1, 1987
Age: 36 years
Height: 1.68 m
Nationality: American
Ronda Rousey is a former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion and is credited with bringing women’s MMA to the mainstream. Rousey’s dominance in the early years of women’s MMA is unmatched, as she won her first 12 professional fights in a row, with most of them ending in the first round. No doubt, Ronda is one of the greatest MMA female fighters of all time.
See also: Ronda Rousey Net Worth: What Is Ronda Rousey Doing Today?
2. Amanda Nunes
Name: Amanda Lourenço Nunes
Amanda Nunes UFC Record: 22-5-0
Born: May 30, 1988
Age: 34 years
Height: 1.73 m
Nationality: Brazilian
Amanda Nunes, also known as “The Lioness,” is considered by many to be the greatest female MMA fighter of all time. Nunes has a professional record of 21 wins and 4 losses, with victories over some of the biggest names in women’s MMA, including Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg. Nunes has also held both the UFC Bantamweight and Featherweight titles, making her a dominant force in the sport.
3. Cris Cyborg
Name: Cristiane Justino Venâncio
Cristiane Justino UFC Record: 21-2-0 (1 NC)
Born: July 9, 1985
Age: 37 years
Height: 1.73 m
Nationality: Brazilian-American
Cris Cyborg is a former UFC Featherweight Champion and is known for her aggressive fighting style and knockout power. Cyborg has a professional record of 23 wins and 3 losses, with 18 of her wins coming by knockout. Cyborg’s legacy in women’s MMA is secure, as she is widely considered one of the greatest female fighters of all time.
4. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Name: Joanna Jędrzejczyk
Joanna Jedrzejczyk UFC Record: 16-5-0
Born: August 18, 1987
Age: 35 years
Height: 1.68 m
Nationality: Polish
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is a former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion and is known for her striking ability and technical skill in the octagon. Jedrzejczyk has a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses and has been involved in some of the most memorable fights in women’s MMA history.
See also: Most interesting facts about Ronda Rousey
5. Valentina Shevchenko
Name: Valentina Anatolievna Shevchenko
Valentina Shevchenko UFC Record: 23-4-0
Born: March 7, 1988
Age: 35 years
Height: 1.65 m
Nationality: Kyrgyz, Peruvian, Russian
Valentina Shevchenko is a former UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion and is known for her precision striking and well-rounded skillset. Shevchenko has a professional record of 22 wins and 4 losses, with victories over some of the best fighters in the sport, including Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Holly Holm.
See also: Ronda Rousey best armbar finishes.
6. Holly Holm
Name: Holly Rene Holm
Holly Holm UFC Record: 15-6-0
Born: October 17, 1981
Age: 41 years
Height: 1.73 m
Nationality: American
Holly Holm is a former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion and is known for her striking ability and unorthodox fighting style. Holm is perhaps best known for her upset victory over Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, where she knocked out the previously undefeated champion with a head kick.
7. Rose Namajunas
Name: Rose Gertrude Namajunas
Rose Namajunas MMA Record: 12-5-0
Born: June 29, 1992
Age: 30 years
Height: 1.65 m
Nationality: American, Lithuanian
Rose Namajunas is a former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion and is known for her submission skills and unrelenting pressure in the octagon. Namajunas has a professional record of 10 wins and 4 losses and has been involved in some of the most exciting fights in women’s MMA history.
8. Miesha Tate
Name: Miesha Theresa Tate
Miesha Tate UFC Record: 19-9-0
Born: August 18, 1986
Age: 36 years
Height: 1.68 m
Nationality: American
Miesha Tate is a former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion and former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion. Tate is known for her grappling ability and toughness in the octagon, as well as her rivalry with Ronda Rousey.
See also: Ronda Rousey vs Miesha Tate.
9. Germaine de Randamie
Name: Germaine Martha de Randamie
Germaine de Randamie UFC Record: 10-4-0
Born: April 24, 1984
Age: 38 years
Height: 1.75 m
Nationality: Dutch
Germaine de Randamie is a former UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion and is known for her striking ability and knockout power. De Randamie has a professional record of 10 wins and 4 losses, with 4 of her wins coming by knockout. She has also competed in kickboxing and Muay Thai, further showcasing her striking ability.
10. Cat Zingano
Name: Cathilee Deborah “Cat” Zingano
Cat Zingano UFC Record: 10-4-0.
Born: July 1, 1982
Age: 40 years
Height: 1.68 m
Nationality: American
Cat Zingano is a former UFC Women’s Bantamweight title challenger and is known for her aggressive fighting style and grappling ability. Zingano has a professional record of 11 wins and 4 losses, with victories over some of the biggest names in women’s MMA, including Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes.
Conclusion
These 10 female MMA fighters have made an incredible impact on the sport and have proven themselves to be some of the best fighters in the world. From Amanda Nunes’ dominant reign as a two-division champion, to Ronda Rousey’s pioneering influence in women’s MMA, to the technical prowess of fighters like Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Valentina Shevchenko, each fighter on this list has contributed something special to the sport.