Sherdog’s Top 10: Female Mixed Martial Artists

1. Cristiane Justino

As ruthless a fighter as MMA has to offer, “Cyborg” personifies violence. The female answer to Wanderlei Silva, Justino has only gone the distance twice in her distinguished her career and has not tasted defeat since submitting to an Erica Paes kneebar in her pro debut on May 17, 2005.

The 31-year-old Brazilian has obliterated everyone put in her path, including Gina Carano, former Strikeforce champion Marloes Coenen (twice) and Shayna Baszler. “Cyborg” won titles in Strikeforce and Invicta Fighting Championships before finally touching down in Ultimate Fighting Championship. In her first appearance inside the Octagon, Justino tore through Leslie Smith in 81 seconds at UFC 198. Justino has yet to face her chief rival, Ronda Rousey, despite being embroiled in a longstanding war of words with the American judoka.

A positive test for a banned anabolic steroid in 2011 remains the one knock against Justino’s legacy. She has not been flagged since and has grown even more dominant. “Cyborg” has finished each of her six opponents, five of them inside one round, after returning from suspension.