Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Women’s Featherweight

1. Cristiane Justino (18-1, 1 NC)

After years of drama and toil, “Cyborg” is the UFC women's featherweight champion. It was not the Germaine de Randamie or Megan Anderson fight for which Justino had hoped, but when scrappy veteran Tonya Evinger stepped into the empty spot at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California, “Cyborg” went out and handled business to take the vacant title in her adopted Orange County backyard. Now comes the hard part: Beyond the aforementioned Anderson, who does the UFC have to challenge arguably the best woman to ever enter the cage?

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)

With her exciting striking skills and massive potential, Anderson's transitioning from Invicta champ to the UFC was only a matter of time. Thanks to a grassroots campaign between both fighters -- and Germaine de Randamie's refusal to fight Cristiane Justino -- Anderson was lined up to fight "Cyborg" for the vacant 145-pound title at UFC 214. However, the Aussie up-and-comer then pulled out of the bout, citing personal issues, putting her Octagon debut on hold.

4. Germaine de Randamie (7-3)

De Randamie put the UFC in a tough spot, becoming the inaugural UFC women's featherweight champion at UFC 208 in February and then refusing to face Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino. It led to her being stripped of a title she seemed to have no interest in defending. “The Iron Lady's” UFC future seemed uncertain, but with the Octagon headed back to her native Netherlands on Sept. 2, de Randamie has landed a bantamweight assignment versus Marion Reneau in Rotterdam.

5. Charmaine Tweet (9-6)

Tweet’s sensational spinning back fist knockout of the previously unbeaten Latoya Walker last 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. Arlene Blencowe (9-6)

After putting together a 2-2 mark in Bellator MMA, Blencowe has signed a new contract with the promotion and will have the immediate chance to get into the 145-pound title mix and perhaps get another crack at inaugural champion Julia Budd, who took a majority decision over “Angerfist” in November. On Aug. 25 at Bellator 182 in Verona, New York, Blencowe takes on Ireland's Sinead Kavanagh.

7. Amanda Bell (5-4)

Amanda Bell's professional record may seem deceiving, but more than anything it's a reflection of the fact she's consistently faced the best women that 145 pounds has to offer. After back-to-back losses to Faith Van Duin and Megan Anderson, “The Lady Killer” has rebounded in style, earning a unanimous decision over Gabrielle Holloway in February, then earning a second stoppage win over Brittney Elkin in her Bellator MMA debut on July 14 in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

8. Gabrielle Holloway (6-5)

After a rough 1-4 run, Holloway righted her ship with an impressive second-round knockout of UFC veteran Alexis Dufresne at Bellator 174 in March. With Bellator ramping up its 145-pound women's division, every fight in the weight class comes with heavy stakes. Holloway may put herself in position for a title shot against Julia Budd if she can knock off undefeated Talita “Treta” Nogueira at Bellator 182 on Aug. 25.

9. Ediane Gomes (11-4)

In search of her first win in over four years, Gomes returned to the featherweight division after going 0-2 at 135 pounds. “India” made the most of the chance, soundly besting the tough Pam Sorenson over 15 minutes at Invicta 23 and putting herself back on the map at 145 pounds.

10. Felicia Spencer (3-0)

Since dropping down to 145 pounds, Spencer has largely looked like the “Feenom” her nickname promises, taking a decision win over Madison McElhaney at Invicta 22 in March before returning just under four months later to earn a first-round rear-naked choke over Amy Coleman at Invicta 24. With the women's featherweight division heating up, it seems like only a matter of time before the UFC or Bellator comes calling for the Montreal native.

Other Contenders: Martyna Czech, Helena Kolesnyk, Amber Leibrock, Iony Razafiarison, Pam Sorenson.

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