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Women’s Featherweight
1. Amanda Nunes (19-4)
It wasn’t a breathtaking knockout like some of her recent efforts, but Nunes showed a different aspect of her game at UFC 245. “Lioness” grounded Germaine de Randamie repeatedly and controlled the majority of their fight from top position en route to a unanimous decision victory in a bantamweight title clash at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Additionally, Nunes had to survive a few moments of adversity — something she hasn’t experienced of late — to earn her 10th straight triumph in the Octagon. Nunes has said she is interested in defending her featherweight crown next.2. Cristiane Justino (22-2, 1 NC)
Justino looked quite comfortable in her new home, as she overwhelmed Julia Budd for a fourth-round technical knockout victory in the Bellator 238 headliner at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., on Jan. 25. The victory gives “Cyborg” championships in four major organizations over the course of her career – Bellator, UFC, Invicta FC and Strikeforce – and re-affirms her position as one of the greatest female mixed martial artists of all time. As has been the case throughout her career, the heavy-handed Brazilian could soon find the pickings slim when it comes to challengers in Bellator’s 145-pound division.3. Julia Budd (13-3)
Budd tasted defeat for the first time since November 2011, falling to Cristiane Justino via fourth-round technical knockout in the Bellator 238 main event at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif, on Jan. 25. While “The Jewel” was able to remain competitive early on thanks to her size and strength, she eventually wilted under “Cyborg’s” trademark offensive pressure. Considering her dominance in the division prior to Justino’s arrival, it’s not unreasonable to think that Budd could earn herself a rematch in relatively short order. Regardless, Budd’s losses are just about as impressive as it gets in women’s MMA: Justino, Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes.4. Arlene Blencowe (13-7)
Blencowe continued to maintain her place as one of the world’s top featherweights at Bellator 233, where she kept the fight upright and consistently landed the better offense against UFC veteran Leslie Smith en route to a unanimous decision triumph. The 36-year-old “Angerfist” has won six of her last seven bouts, and her only losses since 2016 were a pair of narrow defeats to reigning 145-pound queen Julia Budd. As long as the Aussie keeps winning, it may be difficult to deny her a title shot.5. Felicia Spencer (7-1)
Spencer saw her unblemished record fall by the wayside at UFC 240, as she lost a clear-cut unanimous decision to former featherweight queen Cristiane Justino in the evening’s co-headliner. There was a lot to like from the ex-Invicta champion, however, as she cut “Cyborg” with a slashing elbow in the opening stanza and made her opponent work in the clinch. Additionally, Spencer showcased a solid chin in absorbing numerous heavy punching combinations from “Cyborg.” The 28-year-old “Feenom” can take consolation in surviving the full three rounds against the Brazilian knockout artist, but she may need a few wins before she can call herself a true title contender at 145 pounds. Spencer will return against Zarah Fairn at UFC Norfolk on Feb. 29.6. Megan Anderson (10-4)
Faced with a relatively unheralded opponent, Anderson performed as expected at UFC 243, as she took down Zarah Fairn dos Santos and mounted her before eventually securing a fight-ending triangle choke in the opening stanza. The former Invicta FC titlist is now 2-2 within the Las Vegas-based promotion and will welcome Norma Dumont to the Octagon at UFC Norfolk on Feb. 29.7. Jessy Miele (9-3)
Miele won her fourth consecutive bout at Bellator 231, as she battled to a split decision triumph over former title challenger Talita Nogueira on Oct. 25. “The Widowmaker” also boasts a recent win over four-time UFC veteran Elizabeth Phillips on her resume and has finished six of her nine career triumphs inside the distance. More importantly, she has emerged as an interesting new contender in a shallow Bellator 145-pound weight class. Next, Miele will lock horns with UFC veteran Leslie Smith at Bellator 2418. Talita Nogueira (7-2)
Nogueira began her professional MMA career with seven consecutive triumphs, a streak that included a first-round submission of Amanda Bell in her Bellator debut. That earned the Brazilian a title shot, where she was finished by reigning featherweight queen Julia Budd in the third stanza at Bellator 202. “Treta” returned to action a little more than a year later with more disappointing results, as she dropped a split verdict to Jessy Miele at Bellator 231 for her second consecutive defeat.9. Pam Sorenson (8-3)
Sorenson claimed the vacant Invicta FC featherweight crown in dominant fashion, as she controlled Kailtin Young with takedowns and submission attempts en route to a lopsided unanimous decision victory in Kansas City, Kan., on Aug. 9. The 33-year-old Blaine, Minn., native has won three of her last four appearances within the all-female organization.10. Kaitlin Young (10-10-1)
After a stint as a matchmaker with Invicta Fighting Championships, Young came out of retirement in 2018. The 34-year-old Minnesotan ran off a three-fight winning streak within the all-female promotion to earn a shot at the Invicta FC featherweight crown. That opportunity didn’t go as well, as Young dropped a clear-cut unanimous verdict to Pam Sorenson at Invicta FC 36 on Aug. 9.Other Contenders: Amanda Bell, Leslie Smith, Sinead Kavanagh, Olga Rubin, Cindy Dandois
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