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)

Lipski was scheduled to take on Mariana Morais at Imortal Fight Championship 4 in May 2016 before the latter pulled out due to injury. Since then, Lipski is 3-0 with three stoppages and has become KSW’s inaugural women’s flyweight champion. Now, things come full circle at KSW 40 in Dublin on Oct. 22, as “The Violence Queen” will make the first defense of her 125-pound title against Morais.

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)

Lee has had to deal with some tough luck in recent months. Her first Legacy Fighting Alliance title defense went awry in July, when Brazilian opponent Davina Maciel pulled out due to visa issues, nixing the bout. In September, she was set to defend against Carina Damm before settling for little-known Jamie Thorton. Lee was then supposed to make her Octagon debut at UFC 216 against Kalindra Faria, but because she tested positive for a banned diuretic in March 2016, she was ineligible to fight in the UFC until satisfying an entry period in the USADA testing pool.

10. Mara Romero Borella (12-4, 1 NC)

Borella seemed like an average fighter on the European MMA circuit just 18 months ago, facing mostly middling talent. Since the Italian has hooked up with American Top Team, however, she has been positively brilliant. First, “Kunoichici” surprised and upset UFC veteran Milana Dudieva at Invicta 24 in June; and when Andrea Lee was ineligible to make her promotional debut at UFC 216 due to USADA testing requirements, Borella slid into her spot and took veteran Kalindra Faria to school, choking out the Brazilian in less than three minutes. All of a sudden, Borella is one to watch at 125 pounds.

Other Contenders: Diana Belbita, Emily Ducote , Kate Jackson, Sabina Mazo, Iony Razafiarison.

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