Women’s Bantamweight
1. Amanda Nunes (23-5) | UFC [1]
Nunes was rarely threatened in a lopsided unanimous decision triumph over Irene Aldana in the UFC 289 headliner, and she capped off that performance by announcing her retirement from mixed martial arts. “Lioness” exits the sport as a two-division champion and arguably the most accomplished female fighter of all-time with a resume that includes wins over the likes of Cristiane Justino, Valentina Shevchenko (twice), Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Germaine de Randamie and Julianna Pena. While Nunes leaves a potential trilogy with Pena on the table, she really had nothing left to accomplish in a decorated career. If her retirement holds up, Nunes’ rankings eligibility will expire on June 10, 2024.2. Julianna Pena (11-5) | UFC [2]
The fairy tale ended for Pena at UFC 277, as she was battered and dominated for five rounds in a clear-cut unanimous decision loss to Amanda Nunes in their bantamweight championship rematch at American Airlines Arena in Dallas. Pena’s grit was on full display against her “Ultimate Fighter 30” coaching counterpart, but other than a few fleeting moments of success, the fight belonged to Nunes. Thanks to her massive upset of the two-division champ in their first meeting, “The Venezuelan Vixen” was booked for an immediate rubber match at UFC 289, but it fell through when Pena withdrew with a reported rib injury. She was replaced by Irene Aldana but seems unlikely to fall far from the immediate title picture, no matter who is holding the belt when she is ready to return.3. Raquel Pennington (15-8) | UFC [3]
Pennington maintained her foothold in the bantamweight division at UFC Fight Night 217, as she garnered a hard-fought — and somewhat contentious — split decision victory against Ketlen Vieira at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas in the promotion’s first event of 2023. That makes five consecutive victories for “Rocky,” who is still a top contender at 135 pounds. Pennington will get her second opportunity at UFC gold when she faces Mayra Bueno Silva for the vacant bantamweight crown at UFC 297 in Toronto.4. Mayra Bueno Silva (10-2-1, 1 NC) | UFC [4]
Silva secured what appeared to be a signature victory in the UFC on ESPN 49 main event, as she submitted ex-champ Holly Holm with a second-round ninja choke at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. That would have made four straight triumphs for “Sheetara,” but a failed drug test — which Silva blamed on ADHD medication — resulted in her win being overturned to a no contest. The transgression didn’t affect Silva’s status in the promotion’s eyes, as she will meet Raquel Pennington for the vacant bantamweight crown at UFC 297.5. Holly Holm (15-6, 1 NC) | UFC [5]
Holm may have seen her last best chance to regain bantamweight gold fall by the wayside at UFC on ESPN 49, where she suffered a second-round submission defeat to Mayra Bueno Silva in the evening’s headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The fact that the loss was later overturned to a no contest is likely of little consolation to “The Preacher’s Daughter.” Holm turned 42 in October but considering she’s only two fights into a six-bout UFC deal, it seems that the Jackson-Wink MMA standout will soldier onward with her MMA career.6. Irene Aldana (15-7) | UFC [6]
Aldana collaborated with Karol Rosa to produce one of the best fights of 2023 at UFC 296, going back and forth for three furious rounds. While Aldana’s decision to ignore Rosa’s leg kicks and simply keep punching rather than defend them directly may have been questionable, it resulted in a fantastic fight, and there are few women at bantamweight who have demonstrated the kind of commitment to low kicks that Rosa showed. The win redeems Aldana’s gun-shy showing against Amanda Nunes in June, and leaves her very much in the running to face the winner of the Raquel Pennington-Mayra Bueno Silva title fight at UFC 297.7. Ketlen Vieira (14-3) | UFC [7]
Vieira relied on takedowns and top pressure to roll to a three-round verdict over Pannie Kianzad at UFC Fight Night 224 in London. The Brazilian has won three of her last four outings, and with a resume that includes victories over the likes of Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano and Sara McMann, remains very much in the mix at 135 pounds. However, she was forced to withdraw from a proposed clash against Macy Chiasson at UFC Fight Night 234 due to an apparent knee injury.8. Yana Santos (14-8, 1 NC) | UFC [8]
Santos tried her hand at 145 pounds at UFC on ESPN 48, where she dropped a closely contested split decision to Karol Rosa. That makes three consecutive defeats for the former Invicta FC title holder, who will return to bantamweight for a clash with Norma Dumont on Jan. 13.9. Pannie Kianzad (16-7) | UFC [9]
After being sidelined for more than a year due to a torn ACL, it was a frustrating return to action for Kianzad, who was taken down and controlled for the better part of three rounds in a unanimous decision loss to Ketlen Vieira at UFC Fight Night 224 in London. The former Invicta FC title holder has lost two of her last three bouts, though there’s no shame in falling to the likes of Vieira and Raquel Pennington.10. Karol Rosa (17-6) | UFC [10]
Rosa returned to the bantamweight division at UFC 296, just in time to author a last-minute candidate for “Fight of the Year” against Irene Aldana. While Rosa came out on the losing end of that rousing scrap, her stock does not fall far in defeat, and she remains an intriguing part of the 135-pound puzzle heading into 2024, as one of the youngest Top 10 fighters in an aging division.Other Contenders: Talita Bernardo, Miesha Tate, Ailin Perez, Lucie Pudilova, Taneisha Tennant.
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