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Women’s Flyweight
1. Valentina Shevchenko (20-3) [1]
It’s gotten to the point where if Shevchenko loses a round, her opponent can claim a moral victory. Although Jennifer Maia banked the second frame in their co-main event bout at UFC 255, the rest of the contest was all Shevchenko, as “Bullet” cruised to a clear-cut unanimous decision title to retain her flyweight crown. Shevchenko has won six straight fights since moving to 125 pounds and now eyes a showdown against Jessica Andrade at UFC 261.2. Juliana Velasquez (11-0) [2]
In a championship matchup of undefeated fighters, Velasquez ended Ilima-Lei Macfarlane’s flyweight reign with a clear-cut five-round verdict in the Bellator 254 headliner on Dec. 10. The Brazilian judoka has been victorious in her first six promotional appearances and looks destined for a future showdown with Macfarlane training partner and former UFC title challenger Liz Carmouche. A rematch with Macfarlane or a clash with ex-Invicta champ Vanessa Porto are also possibilities.3. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-1) [3]
For five rounds, Macfarlane struggled to navigate the size and strength advantages of Juliana Velasquez en route to a unanimous decision loss in the Bellator 254 headliner on Dec. 10 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. That ended the championship reign of the Hawaiian, who captured the Bellator’s inaugural 125-pound crown and defended it four times, all while becoming one of the California-based promotion’s biggest stars. Considering those credentials, Macfarlane may not be far off from another title shot — and an immediate return date with Velasquez might not be that farfetched.4. Liz Carmouche (15-7) [4]
Carmouche moved closer to a flyweight title shot with a workmanlike three-round verdict against former Invicta FC title holder Vanessa Porto at Bellator 256 on April 9. “Girl-Rilla” has won four of her last five outings at 125 pounds – including Bellator wins against Porto and DeAnna Bennett – and appears poised for a showdown with reigning promotional champ Juliana Velasquez down the road, provided Team Hurricane Awesome training partner Ilima-Lei Macfarlane doesn’t receive an immediate rematch against Velasquez first.5. Jessica Andrade (21-8) [6]
Andrade became the first woman to earn Octagon victories in three different weight classes at UFC Fight Night 180, as she dispatched former flyweight title challenger Katlyn Chookagian with body punches 4:55 into the opening round of their co-main event encounter in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 17. With an impressive victory in her 125-pound debut, the former strawweight queen secured a shot at reiging champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 261.6. Katlyn Chookagian (15-4) [7]
Chookagian may have been overmatched against the likes of Valentina Shevchenko and Jessica Andrade, but “Blonde Fighter” looks to be a difficult matchup for much of the rest of the 125-pound division. Such was the case at UFC 255, where Chookagian befuddled the smaller Cynthia Calvillo for three rounds en route to a unanimous decision triumph on Nov. 21 in Las Vegas. Chookagian will return to action against Viviane Araujo on May 15.7. Lauren Murphy (14-4) [8]
Murphy continued her march toward title contention at UFC 254, where she tapped out replacement foe Liliya Shakirova with a rear-naked choke 3:31 into Round 2 in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 24. It was the first career submission victory for Murphy, who is riding a four-bout winning streak in the Las Vegas-based promotion. Murphy is on the short list of top contenders for reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko.8. Vanessa Porto (22-9) [5]
Given an opportunity to make a statement against Liz Carmouche in her Bellator debut on April 9, Porto fell flat, losing a lackluster unanimous decision in a matchup of flyweight contenders. The Bellator 256 defeat halted a four-bout winning streak for the former Invicta champ, who was making her first appearance since November 2019.9. Jennifer Maia (18-7-1) [9]
After 10 minutes, Maia was on even terms with Valentina Shevchenko in their flyweight title bout at UFC 255. That proved to be a smokescreen, however, as Shevchenko dominated the rest of the way with sharp striking and timely takedowns to retain her 125-pound belt with a unanimous decision victory. In defeat, the former Invicta FC title holder falls to 3-3 during her tenure with the Las Vegas-based promotion. Maia will return against fellow former title challenger Jessica Eye on July 10.10. Joanne Calderwood (15-5) [10]
Calderwood put on a muay Thai exhibition at UFC 257, outlanding Jessica Eye with a variety of punches, elbows, kicks and knees in a unanimous decision triumph at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23. All told, Calderwood landed 148 significant strikes in victory – a UFC record for a three-round flyweight fight. The Scotswoman also puts herself back in the conversation for a matchup with reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko down the road.Other Contenders: Cynthia Calvillo, Jessica Eye, Viviane Araujo, Roxanne Modafferi, Andrea Lee.
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