Women’s Featherweight
1. Cristiane Justino (17-1, 1 NC)
In a move that was not necessarily a surprise, “Cyborg” vacated her Invicta Fighting Championships featherweight title in a self-released video. Of course, that was not the focus of the video, as the 31-year-old Brazilian used her camera time to call out UFC 145-pound queen Germaine de Randamie, targeting a clash between the two at the UFC event scheduled for July 29 in Anaheim, California.2. Julia Budd (10-2)
Bellator MMA crowned Budd its first women’s featherweight champion on March 3. The British Columbia native was too big and too physical for MMA pioneer Marloes Coenen, as “The Jewel” battered the Dutch fighter to a fourth-round stoppage and into retirement following the bout.3. Megan Anderson (8-2)
As women’s featherweight divisions blossom in Bellator and the UFC, the 27-year-old Anderson is bound for big things, especially given her exciting, knockout-heavy fight style. While waiting for a big-show deal, she has earned a small promotion. Cristiane Justino’s decision to vacate the Invicta title has led the organization to move Anderson from interim titleholder to undisputed champion at 145 pounds.4. Germaine de Randamie (7-3)
While it came in a quickly cobbled-together title fight to crown the first UFC women’s featherweight champion, de Randamie got her breakthrough MMA win at UFC 208 in Brooklyn, New York, where she won a unanimous verdict over former bantamweight queen Holly Holm. The win makes de Randamie just the second Dutch champion in UFC history, following after former heavyweight titleholder Bas Rutten in May 1999. The victory figures to put “The Iron Lady” on a collision course with divisional ruler Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.5. Charmaine Tweet (9-6)
Tweet’s sensational spinning back fist knockout of the previously unbeaten Latoya Walker in May earned her a crack at the interim Invicta featherweight title on Jan. 14. However, in the main event of Invicta 21, the Saskatchewan, Canada, native was head kicked and knocked out by rising stalwart Megan Anderson. Tweet’s last three losses have come to divisional standouts Anderson, Cristiane Justino and Julia Budd.6. Latoya Walker (5-1)
Walker started her pro career a dominant and sterling 5-0 but took her first career loss in May and did so in highlight-reel fashion. The 37-year-old Austin, Texas, native ate an awesome spinning back fist from Charmaine Tweet and suffered her first defeat at just 3:41 of the first round.7. Arlene Blencowe (9-6)
Given the thin nature of the women's featherweight division, fighting frequently can be difficult. Case in point: Australia's Blencowe only got to fight once in 2016. Perhaps heartened by losing a competitive majority decision to divisional No. 2 Julia Budd in October, Blencowe has found a way to stay active. In January, she earned a 68-second knockout over Janay Harding. She then dropped to 135 pounds and traveled to China to knock out Tasmania's Rhiannon Thompson in the first round on April 15. Now, “Angerfist” has taken to calling out both Bethe Correia and Cristiane Justino, looking to land a major bout in the UFC, whether it is at 135 or 145 pounds.8. Helena Kolesnyk (5-0, 1 NC)
Kolesnyk needed only 25 seconds to beat up unknown Tatiana Portnova under the Tech-Krep FC banner on April 7. Not wanting to rest on her laurels -- or perhaps looking to secure a contract with the UFC or Bellator MMA -- the Moscow-based Ukrainian has designs on a quick turnaround, signing on to face France's Iony Razafiarison at 139 pounds at Superior Fighting Championship 17 in Germany on May 20. It will be the “Pretty” one's sixth fight in less than 15 months.9. Amanda Bell (4-4)
After back-to-back losses to Faith van Duin and Megan Anderson in Invicta Fighting Championships, “The Lady Killer” earned a quality win over Gabrielle Holloway under the King of the Cage banner on Feb. 4. With Bellator MMA fleshing out its 145-pound division, Bell’s free-swinging style has earned her a big-fight contract, as she has signed on with Bellator for a debut later this year.10. Gabrielle Holloway (6-5)
The 145-pound focus at Bellator 174 was the inaugural women’s title bout between Julia Budd and Marloes Coenen in the main event. Nonetheless, on the undercard, Holloway earned the biggest win of her pro career, as she broke a two-fight skid by pounding out UFC veteran Alexis Dufresne in the second round. As a result, she figures to be a contender in Bellator’s nascent women’s featherweight division.Other Contenders: Martyna Czech, Amber Leibrock, Leah Letson, Jessica Miele, Iony Razafiarison.
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