Fighter image: Sachiko Hotaka/Rizin FF | Illustration: John Brannigan/Sherdog.com
Women’s Atomweight
1. Seika Izawa (8-0) | Rizin [1]
Izawa kept her undefeated record intact at Rizin 38 when she submitted Anastasiya Svetkivska with an armbar in the semifinals of the promotion’s super atomweight grand prix. Prior to the finish, the reigning Rizin and Deep Jewels champion survived some harrowing moments on the canvas against the underrated Svetkivska, who was a replacement for the injured Rena Kubota. Up next, Izawa will face Si Woo Park — whom she defeated under the Deep Jewels banner in October 2021 — in the finals of the bracket.2. Si Woo Park (9-4) | Rizin [2]
Stout takedown defense and crisp striking carried Park to a clear-cut unanimous verdict over former champion Ayaka Hamasaki in the semifinals of the super atomweight grand prix at Rizin 38. The victory sets up a rematch with Seika Izawa, who defeated Park via unanimous decision in their first meeting at Deep 104 Impact in October 2021. The “Korean Queen Bee” will carry a four-bout winning streak into the tournament final.3. Ayaka Hamasaki (24-6) | Rizin [3]
Hamasaki couldn’t take Si Woo Park to the canvas in their super atomweight grand prix semifinal matchup at Rizin 38, and as a result she was battered and dropped on the feet en route to a convincing unanimous decision loss. While the 40-year-old ex-champion remains one of the top talents in the division, a 1-3 record in her last four professional appearances suggests that Hamasaki’s best days may be behind her.4. Jillian DeCoursey (6-3) | Invicta [4]
DeCoursey stunned Jessica Delboni at Invicta FC 49 on Sept. 28, running roughshod over the Invicta atomweight champ and choking her out with ease late in the first round. With the resounding win, “Lionheart” claims one of the two most prestigious belts to be found below 115 pounds, and takes a corresponding leap in these rankings. One of MMA’s most unsung late bloomers, the 38-year-old New Yorker will not be short of challenges in the upcoming months, whether it be a Delboni rematch, one of Invicta’s other rising contenders or even a cross-promotional bout with one of Rizin’s super atomweights.5. Namiko Kawabata (4-1) | Jewels [5]
After upsetting Saori Oshima in a non-title bout at Deep Jewels 36 in March, Kawabata kept her momentum going with a 37-second technical knockout victory against Yuko Kiryu at Deep Jewels 38 in Tokyo on Sept. 11. Making the victory all the more impressive was the fact that Kiryu was in the midst of a five-fight winning streak and hadn’t been finished since her professional debut in 2015. Kawabata’s 2022 campaign has established her as a talent to watch in the atomweight division going forward — whether that’s in another bout before year’s end or in 2023.6. Saori Oshima (10-3) | Jewels [6]
Oshima relied on a multi-faceted striking arsenal to capture a split-decision triumph against Miyuu Yamamoto at Rizin 36 on July 2 in Okinawa, Japan. It was the second victory under the Rizin banner for the Deep Jewels champion — she also bested Kanna Asakura in October 2021. Oshima won for the seventh time in eight professional appearances when she successfully defended her microweight (97-pound) title agianst Mizuki Furuseat Deep 110 Impact on Nov. 12.7. Jessica Correa Delboni (12-4) | Invicta [7]
Delboni suffered the worst setback of her career to date at Invicta FC 49, as Jillian DeCoursey mauled her on the ground en route to a rear-naked choke submission in the waning seconds of Round 1. With the stunning loss, “The Queen” relinquishes the Invicta atomweight crown she won from Alesha Zappitella in January, and sees a two-fight win streak snapped. A rematch may not be long in coming, however, considering Delboni’s only two losses in Invicta have been in title fights.8. Alesha Zappitella (9-4, 1 NC) | Invicta [8]
Zappitella’s move to the strawweight division didn’t go as planned, as she suffered a doctor stoppage loss to Emily Ducote after two rounds in the Invicta FC 47 main event on May 11. “Half Pint” has now lost back-to-back title bouts — one at 115 pounds and one at 105 pounds — after compiling a four-fight winning streak from February 2020 to May 2021. It appears that her future will remain in the strawweight division for the time being.9. Rena Kubota (12-4) | Rizin [9]
Kubota punched her ticket to the semifinals of the super atomweight grand prix with a unanimous verdict against Anastasiya Svetkivska at Rizin 37. The Shoot Boxing flyweight queen has won five of her last six appearances under the Rizin banner and rebounds from a loss to Si Woo Park at Rizin 33 in December 2021. Unfortunately, an injury forced Kubota to withdraw from the super atomweight bracket.10. Kanna Asakura (19-7) | Rizin [10]
Asakura’s second bid to win a Rizin super atomweight grand prix ended prematurely, as she dropped a unanimous decision to Si Woo Park in a quarterfinal bout at Rizin 37. The 24-year-old Asakura has lost three of her last four outings dating back to March 2021, a stretch that includes split-decision setbacks against the likes of Saori Oshima and Ayaka Hamasaki.Other Contenders: Satomi Takano, Mina Kurobe, Ana Palacios, Moeri Suda, Miyuu Yamamoto.
Sherdog’s divisional and pound-for-pound rankings are compiled by a panel of Sherdog.com staff members and contributors: Tristen Critchfield, Mike Fridley, Brian Knapp, Ben Duffy, Jay Pettry, Edward Carbajal, Marcelo Alonso, Tudor Leonte, Keith Shillan, John Brannigan, Tyler Treese, Lev Pisarsky and Rob Sargent.
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