Women’s Flyweight
1. Jennifer Maia (14-4-1)
Maia has not fought since she eked out a split decision over Roxanne Modafferi in September to retain the Invicta flyweight title. With several major 125-pound bouts taking place at Invicta 23 to jump start the division, Maia's next title defense will likely come against one of the card's featured talents. While a rematch with Modafferi is a possibility, it seems more likely that the Brazilian hitter will make her next title defense against undefeated Pole Agnieszka Niedzwiedz.2. Agnieszka Niedzwiedz (10-0)
After Niedzwiedz failed to make weight for her second flyweight bout against Samara Santos in December, the pressure was on the undefeated Polish prospect to step her game up next time out. It would be no easy task, taking a massive leap up in competition at Invicta 23 against the well-established Vanessa Porto. Instead, the 22-year-old “Kuma” aced her main event assignment, winning a sound unanimous decision over the Brazilian veteran and possibly lining herself up for a crack at Invicta champion Jennifer Maia.3. Vanessa Porto (18-8)
Porto lost her rematch with fellow Brazilian Jennifer Maia for the Invicta flyweight title in March 2016. After 14 months on the shelf, Porto returned to action to face undefeated Pole Agnieszka Niedzwiedz in the Invicta 23 headliner but wound up dropping a unanimous decision and losing her chance, at least for now, to get a rubber match with Maia.4. Roxanne Modafferi (21-13)
Modafferi's close loss via split decision to Invicta flyweight champ Jennifer Maia in September was a setback for the 13-year veteran, but “The Happy Warrior” has rebounded in style. Modafferi first won a tune-up bout in April over Brazil's Priscila de Souza, then hacked up the gritty Sarah D'Alelio with nasty ground-and-pound punches and elbows at Invicta 23 to reaffirm her spot among the 125-pound elite.5. Rin Nakai (19-2-1)
Admittedly, the 5-foot-1 Nakai’s UFC run at 135 pounds did not go well, as she dropped lame decisions to Miesha Tate and Leslie Smith. However, since returning to her home promotion Pancrase and dedicating herself to 125 pounds, Nakai has gone an impressive 3-0. She most recently competed for the Rizin Fighting Federation on Dec. 29 and defeated the previously unbeaten Kanako Murata, a true world-class wrestler.6. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (6-0)
“The Ilimanator” ran through Jessica Middleton at Bellator 178 on April 21, locking up an armbar in just over two minutes to cinch her fifth win for the promotion. At this point, the 27-year-old Hawaiian is a virtual lock to be a part of the inaugural Bellator MMA women’s flyweight title fight, whenever the company decides to put another championship in circulation.7. Ariane Lipski (9-3)
The circumstances surrounding the biggest win of Lipski's career could not have been better: Just after Bellator MMA and the UFC began aggressively pushing their women's flyweight divisions and resolved to put titles in circulation, Lipski got to take on fellow rising prospect Diana Belbita of Romania for the inaugural KSW women's 125-pound strap. Lipski-Belbita was one of five title bouts on KSW's “Colosseum” card, which took place in front of nearly 58,000 fans in Warsaw, Poland, where Lipski pulled off a first-round armbar to the take the gold.8. Sarah D’Alelio (11-7)
“The Monster” had won four bouts in a row heading into Invicta 23 on May 20, and a win over Roxanne Modafferi would have been the biggest of D'Alelio's career, vaulting her into immediate 125-pound title contention in the Invicta Fighting Championships ranks. Instead, Modafferi took over the fight late and unloaded a nasty barrage of punches and elbows on the floor that left D'Alelio bloodied, battered and beaten.9. Andrea Lee (7-2)
One of the brightest up-and-comers at 125 pounds, Lee has gained an audience through her exploits in the Invicta cage, but “KGB's” priorities are split, as she is also the Legacy Fighting Alliance flyweight queen. Unfortunately, her LFA title defense scheduled for July 14 fell through during fight week, as would-be Brazilian challenger Davina Maciel was forced out of the contest due to visa issues.10. Emily Ducote (6-2)
The flyweight division hasn't got anywhere near the shine the rest of women's weight classes in MMA have and it's been even harder for women to emerge under the Bellator MMA banner, given the anointed status of undefeated Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. Despite the 23-year-old Ducote's loss this past December to “The Iliminator,” she's rebounded in sound style with wins over Katy Collins and Jessica Middleton, upping her Bellator record to 4-1 and installing herself as a 125-pounder to watch.Other Contenders: Diana Belbita, Mara Romero Borella, Sabina Mazo, Rebecca Ruth, Jingnan Xiong.
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