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Women’s Featherweight
1. Amanda Nunes (21-4) [1]
Nunes extended her winning streak to 12 at UFC 259, where she ran roughshod over Megan Anderson en route to a reverse triangle armbar submission at the 2:03 mark of Round 1. The consensus women’s GOAT now has three wins in 145-pound title bouts to her credit, but there doesn’t appear to be any worthwhile challenges in that division at the moment. “Lioness” was supposed to return to 135 pounds to defend her bantamweight crown against Julianna Pena at UFC 265 but was forced to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19. The bout has been rescheduled for UFC 269.2. Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (25-2, 1 NC) [2]
It was business as usual for Justino at Bellator 271, as she dispatched Sinead Kavanagh via knockout 1:32 into the opening round at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., on Nov. 12. It was the fifth consecutive win for “Cyborg,” who performed as expected in her latest title featherweight title defense. Unless Bellator can persuade two-time PFL lightweight champion Kayla Harrison — who was in attendance — to join the fold, challenges will remain scarce for the heavy-handed Brazilian at 145 pounds. The Chute Boxe standout thus far has finished all four of her opponents in Bellator MMA.3. Julia Budd (16-3) [3]
Budd made her Professional Fighters League debut at the organzation’s championship event on Oct. 27, where she captured a unanimous decision over Inivcta FC veteran Kaitlin Young. Budd has won three straight since relinquishing the Bellator featherweight crown to Cristiane Justino in January 2020. The only women to beat the 38-year-old Canadian in MMA competition are Budd, Amanda Nunes and Ronda Rousey, which makes her an interesting foil for Kayla Harrison if the two-time Olympic gold medalist remains with the PFL. However, Budd’s days in the featherweight rankings could be numbered if she continues to compete at 155 pounds.4. Norma Dumont (7-1) [4]
Originally slated to face Holly Holm in the UFC Fight Night 195 headliner, Dumont instead squared off against Aspen Ladd, who took the bout on short notice after missing weight for a bantamweight bout two weeks prior. Though it wasn’t one for the record books, the Brazilian earned a clear-cut decision triumph over Ladd in a lackluster bout. With three straight victories in the Octagon at 145 pounds, Dumont is already a title contender in a shallow division.5. Felicia Spencer (9-3) [5]
Spencer returned to the win column at UFC Fight Night 197 with a dominant third-round technical knockout victory against “The Ultimate Fighter 28” winner Leah Letson at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Nov. 13. The victory was much needed on the heels of back-to-back losses to Norma Dumont and Amanda Nunes, and Spencer remains one of the top talents in a shallow featherweight division. She’ll likely need at least a couple more victories before she receives another 145-pound title shot, however.6. Megan Anderson (11-5) [6]
Once upon a time, Anderson appeared to be a fearsome featherweight prospect as she rolled to four consecutive knockout victories under the Invicta Fighting Championships banner. The 31-year-old Aussie is undoubtedly still a high-caliber talent in a shallow division, but she looked like a deer in the headlights as she was routed by Amanda Nunes in a 145-pound title bout in the UFC 259 co-main event on March 6. The Glory MMA & Fitness product is 3-3 in the Las Vegas-based promotion, with no clear direction to take following a devastating defeat.7. Arlene Blencowe (15-8) [7]
Blencowe secured an clear-cut victory over former Invicta FC title holder Pam Sorenson at Bellator 271, relying on powerful punching combinations and sturdy takedown combinations to take a unanimous verdict in their matchup in Hollywood, Fla., on Nov. 12. The 38-year-old known as “Angerfist” has won five of her last six appearances within the California-based promotion, with her lone setback coming at the hands of reigning featherweight queen Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino via submission in October 2020.8. Pam Sorenson (9-4) [8]
After a successful promotional debut against Roberta Samad this past August, Sorenson was outgunned against former title challenger Arlene Blencowe in a unanimous decision defeat at Bellator 271 on Nov. 12. That setback halts a modest two-bout winning streak for the former Invicta FC and King of the Cage title holder, who had been on hiatus for two years before splitting a pair of bouts under the Bellator banner in 2021.9. Janay Harding (6-6) [9]
Harding lost for the second time in three outings at Bellator 259, as she succumbed to a Leah McCourt triangle choke 2:42 into Round 2 of their May 21 matchup. Fortunately for Harding, McCourt missed weight by 3.5 pounds, so the setback won’t affect her much in terms of the 145-pound divisional rankings. However, the Aussie also missed an opportunity to propel herself into contention in what remains a very shallow weight class.10. Leslie Smith (12-9-1) [10]
After falling to Cristiane Justino via first-round TKO in their first meeting at UFC 198, Smith made into the fifth round before being stopped in their rematch at Bellator 259 on May 21. Making it to the championship rounds against the heavy-handed “Cyborg” is no small feat, but it doesn’t change the fact that Smith is now 0-2 against the ruler of the Bellator’s featherweight division – making it difficult to see a path back to the title for “The Peacemaker.”Other Contenders: Jessy Miele, Kaitlin Young, Marina Mokhnatkina, Amanda Bell, Sinead Kavanagh.
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