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Women’s Featherweight
1. Amanda Nunes (18-4)
Nunes continued to make her case as the female “GOAT” at UFC 239, where she patiently waited for an opening before dispatching Holly Holm with a head kick and follow-up punches 4:10 into the opening stanza of their co-main event encounter at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. That makes nine consecutive victories for “Lioness,” including six in title bouts. With a resume that also includes wins over the likes of Cristiane Justino, Valentina Shevchenko (twice), Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate and Germaine de Randamie, the next task is simply finding a suitable challenge for the two-division champion. A rematch with “Cyborg” once looked to be on the horizon, but it now appears that Justino will be taking her talents elsewhere.2. Cristiane Justino (21-2)
It was only natural to wonder how “Cyborg” would fare coming off her first defeat in more than 13 years, but the heavy-handed Brazilian bounced back nicely at UFC 240, earning a unanimous decision victory against Felicia Spencer in the evening’s co-main event in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on July 27. It was the last fight on Justino’s UFC deal, and shortly thereafter promotion head Dana White confirmed that he was “out of the Cyborg business,” clearing the way for the ex-champ to join another organization. Regardless, Justino re-established herself as the clear No. 2 featherweight in the world.3. Julia Budd (13-2)
Budd continued to display her newfound penchant for finishing fights at Bellator 224, as she wiped out the previously unbeaten Olga Rubin at the 2:14 mark of Round 1 in the evening’s headliner in Thackerville, Okla., on June 12. The 36-year-old “Jewel” extended her winning streak to 11 with the fastest stoppage of her career and has now finished three of her last four foes under the Bellator banner. Budd has already targeted matchups with recent signee Leslie Smith or Rizin powerhouse Gabi Garcia in a potential cross-promotional duel.4. Arlene Blencowe (12-7)
Blencowe dispatched Amanda Bell in emphatic fashion at Bellator 224, rocking her opponent with a right hook behind the ear at the outset and sealing her victory with follow-up punches just 22 seconds after the contest began. “Angerfist” has won five of her last six outings, but considering that her career resume includes a pair of losses to reigning Bellator featherweight queen Julia Budd, a title shot could be difficult to come by until “The Jewel” is dethroned.5. Holly Holm (12-5)
Give Holm and her team credit: “The Preacher’s Daughter” has maximized her marketability during her UFC tenure. However, Holm’s run may be nearing its end. The Jackson-Wink MMA stalwart never got going against Amanda Nunes in the UFC 239 co-headliner, as she fell victim to her own signature move – a head kick – at the 4:10 mark of the opening stanza. Since her monumental upset of Ronda Rousey, Holm is 0-4 in UFC title bouts, and there seems to be no obvious next move for the 37-year-old following the first KO/TKO defeat of her MMA career.6. Felicia Spencer (7-1)
Spencer saw her unblemished record fall by the wayside at UFC 240, as she lost a clear-cut unanimous decision to former featherweight queen Cristiane Justino in the evening’s co-headliner. There was a lot to like from the ex-Invicta champion, however, as she cut “Cyborg” with a slashing elbow in the opening stanza and made her opponent work in the clinch. Additionally, Spencer showcased a solid chin in absorbing numerous heavy punching combinations from “Cyborg.” The 28-year-old “Feenom” can take consolation in surviving the full three rounds against the Brazilian knockout artist, but she may need a few wins before she can call herself a true title contender at 145 pounds.7. Megan Anderson (9-4)
The battle of former Invicta titlists did not go Anderson’s way at UFC Rochester, as she was submitted by Felicia Spencer in the opening stanza of their featherweight bout. Anderson has lost two of her three Octagon appearances thus far, and the Aussie’s lone victory over Cat Zingano came in somewhat dubious fashion when her toenail injured her opponent’s eye while throwing a head kick. Anderson will get a chance to redeem herself when she locks horns with the debuting Zarah Fairn dos Santos at UFC 243 in Melbourne on Oct. 8.8. Talita Nogueira (7-1)
Nogueira waited nearly three years for her shot at Julia Budd, but that extra time did not make her any more prepared for what awaited her against the reigning Bellator MMA featherweight queen. After nearly being finished by a knee to the body in the second stanza, Nogueira succumbed to a right hand and follow-up punches 4:07 into the third round. Positive moments were few and far between for the Brazilian, who had finished her first seven foes.9. Olga Rubin (6-1)
Rubin looked overmatched in her bid for featherweight gold against Julia at Bellator 224. Budd put the Israeli fighter in retreat mode with a kick to the body early in their headlining bout, and with Rubin in obvious distress, the reigning champion sealed her victory with a series of punches and a clinch knee at the 2:14 mark of Round 1. For Rubin, there’s no shame in suffering her first career defeat to the likes of Budd, who extended her winning streak to 11 and ranks among the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.10. Kaitlin Young (10-9-1)
It’s been a nice run for Young since she elected to come out of retirement. After exiting the sport on a five-bout winless streak, the former Invicta FC matchmaker returned in 2018 and has posted successive triumphs over Reina Miura, Sarah Patterson and Faith McMah – the last two of those coming within the all-female organization. The 33-year-old Minnesotan has a wealth of experience of the course of a career that dates back to 2007, having squared off against the likes of Miesha Tate, Gina Carano, Julie Kedzie, Liz Carmouche and Leslie Smith, to name a few. Next, Young will face Pam Sorenson at Invicta FC 36 on Aug. 9.Other Contenders: Amanda Bell, Amber Leibrock, Cindy Dandois, Jessy Miele, Leslie Smith.
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