Women’s Bantamweight
1. Amanda Nunes (13-4)
Heading into UFC 200, Nunes had posted a 4-1 mark with three stoppages, but the knock on her was that she fatigued down the stretch and thus may prove a perfect foil for the ever-scrappy Miesha Tate. In their ad hoc main event, Nunes made sure no later rounds were necessary, completely destroying Tate with punches before choking her out in just over three minutes in one of the year’s biggest beatdowns. With the win, the Brazilian also became the UFC’s first openly gay champion.2. Miesha Tate (18-6)
Despite authoring one of 2016’s most thrilling moments when she came from behind in the fifth round to choke out Holly Holm for the UFC women’s bantamweight title in March, Tate was destroyed in her first title defense by Amanda Nunes at UFC 200 four months later. Tate’s path to redemption runs through UFC 205 on Nov. 12 in New York City, where she takes on up-and-coming contender Raquel Pennington.3. Valentina Shevchenko (13-2)
There were hopes for a Shevchenko-Julianna Pena showdown at UFC 205 on Nov. 12 at Madison Square Garden. Shevchenko was hip to the cause, but the surging Pena claims she never agreed to the fight and is content to lobby for a title shot. Unless something changes, Shevchenko will need a new potential dance partner as she seeks to earn her own UFC title bid; frankly, “Bullet” is not exactly a woman anyone is clamoring to fight.4. Holly Holm (10-2)
How quickly fortunes change. A year ago at this time, Holm had not yet head kicked Ronda Rousey into oblivion. In that span, Holm has gone from mainstream media sensation to dethroned champ, courtesy of Miesha Tate in March. Now, she is just another contender after dropping a unanimous verdict to Valentina Shevchenko in the UFC on Fox 20 headliner in Chicago. With that said, Holm drew an impressive rating on Fox due to her exploits against Rousey, and there are still plenty of fights for the 34-year-old former boxing world champ, as she has had all of five bouts in the Octagon.5. Ronda Rousey (12-1)
Rousey was on the receiving end of a Holly Holm head kick knockout that was equal parts brutal and stunning at UFC 193 on Nov. 14. The first defeat of the decorated judoka’s MMA career came before a record-setting crowd in Melbourne, Australia, and cost her the UFC women’s bantamweight title, shattering her aura of invincibility. Rousey is expected to return in late 2016 or early 2017, though exactly when and against whom remains anyone’s guess.6. Julianna Pena (8-2)
Following her return from a gruesome knee injury, Pena has beaten Cat Zingano, Jessica Eye and Milana Dudieva and put herself in firm UFC title contention. While the UFC’s hope was to pair her with fellow rising contender Valentina Shevchenko, “The Venezuelan Vixen” is exercising her right to hold out in hopes of grabbing the first crack at UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes.7. Cat Zingano (9-2)
Back from a 16-month absence, Zingano is now eligible to be ranked again, but the former UFC title challenger did not return on a positive note. Though “Alpha” started quickly against Julianna Pena at UFC 200, she could not keep up her wrestling attack, giving up her back in the second and third rounds, fending off rear-naked chokes until the final bell and losing a unanimous decision.8. Tonya Evinger (18-5)
Evinger won her ninth consecutive bout and defended her Invicta Fighting Championships bantamweight belt for the first time on May 7 in a five-round wipeout of fellow veteran Colleen Schneider. Ten years into her MMA career, the Missouri native seems to have hit her stride, having taken out solid competition in six straight outings under the Invicta banner.9. Raquel Pennington (8-5)
After several years of learning on the job against more experienced pro competition, Pennington has finally hit her stride in the UFC, with a three-fight winning streak over Jessica Andrade, Bethe Correia and Elizabeth Phillips. Now, “Rocky” gets a massive jump up in opposition on a major stage, as she will meet former UFC and Strikeforce champ Miesha Tate at UFC 205 on Nov. 12 at Madison Square Garden.10. Sara McMann (9-3)
McMann has struggled since her 66-second title fight loss to Ronda Rousey at UFC 170 over two years ago, barely and questionably topping Lauren Murphy while losing to Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes. The Olympic silver medalist got back into the swing of things on May 29, dominating Jessica Eye for 15 minutes en route to three 30-27 shutout scorecards.Other Contenders: Katlyn Chookagian, Germaine de Randamie, Ashlee Evans-Smith, Sarah Kaufman, Lauren Murphy
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