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Women’s Featherweight
1. Amanda Nunes (21-5) [1]
Nunes was a victim of 2021’s biggest upset at UFC 269, as she suffered a second-round submission loss to Julianna Pena in the evening’s co-main event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Nunes emptied her gas tank in a firefight against “The Venezuelan Vixen” in Round 2, and once she was unable to get the knockout, she succumbed to a rear-naked choke to relinquish the bantamweight belt. Nunes will coach opposite Pena on “The Ultimate Fighter 30” before attempting to regain her title in a rematch later in 2022.2. 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. The Chute Boxe standout thus far has finished all four of her opponents in Bellator MMA. She’ll look to vanquish Arlene Blencowe for the second time when the square off in a championship rematch at Bellator 279.3. Julia Budd (16-3) [3]
Budd made her Professional Fighters League debut at the organization's championship event on Oct. 27, where she captured a unanimous decision over Invicta 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. Spencer apparently won’t look to build upon her latest triumph, however, as she announced her retirement a few weeks after besting Letson.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. While Anderson hasn’t officially retired, she also said she doesn’t have designs on fighting anytime soon.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. She’ll get a change to avenge that defeat when she faces “Cyborg” in a rematch at Bellator 279.8. 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: Sarah Kaufman, Jessy Miele, Marina Mokhnatkina, Amanda Bell, Sinead Kavanagh.
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