Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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 did not succeed on her first stint on “The Ultimate Fighter” back on Season 18, but now that “The Happy Warrior” is at her preferred weight class of 125 pounds, she stands a chance to be the inaugural UFC women's flyweight champion. The 14-year MMA veteran is the No. 1 seed on "The Ultimate Fighter 26," which will crown the promotion's first 125-pound queen; in her opening-round contest, Modafferi easily pounded out Shana Dobson in the first round.

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)

She was 5-0 as an amateur, and now, she is 6-0 as a pro; no wonder Bellator MMA pushed in all of its chips on Hawaii's Macfarlane. Once Bellator went all-in on the women's 125-pound division, the real question was who would face “The Ilimanator” when it came time to crown a champion. Even if it is a repeat, the answer is clear. Macfarlane will face former victim Emily Ducote -- a woman she beat via decision in December -- to crown the inaugural Bellator flyweight queen on Nov. 3 at Bellator 186.

7. Ariane Lipski (9-3)

At just 23 years old, Lipski is one of the best young women in the sport and already one of its top 125-pounders. The Curitiba, Brazil, native won her seventh fight in a row at KSW's historic “Colosseum” card in May, as she slapped an armbar on Diana Belbita to become the first-ever KSW women's flyweight champion in front of nearly 58,000 fans. Now, “The Violence Queen” will make the first defense of her title against a yet-to-be-named foe at KSW 40 on Oct. 22 in Dublin.

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 (8-2)

In the first defense of her Legacy Fight Alliance title, Lee put in work against Jamie Thorton, taking her shoulder home in the second round to retain her title. “KGB” is an Invicta Fighting Championships title contender, as well, and with her charisma, style and untapped potential, she will assuredly draw looks from the UFC and Bellator MMA as both promotions look to expand their roster of 125-pound women. However, Lee may have a serious title contender brewing, as “Colombian Queen” Sabino Mazo continues to knock out foes with head kicks in the LFA cage on cable television.

10. Emily Ducote (6-2)

Ducote was just a showcase opponent for touted Brazilian Bruna Vargas at Bellator 159, and then, she choked her out. She was just a stay-busy fight for Ilima-Lei Macfarlane in December, as the Hawaiian waited for Bellator to get its women's flyweight championship in circulation. Ducote may have lost to “The Ilimanator,” but on the back of impresisve 2017 wins over Katy Collins and Jessica Middleton, the 23-year-old “Gordinha” has earned the chance not just to run it back with Macfarlane but to seek vengeance with the inaugural Bellator MMA women's flyweight title on the line.

Other Contenders: Diana Belbita, Mara Romero Borella, Kate Jackson, Sabina Mazo, Iony Razafiarison.

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