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Women’s Strawweight
1. Weili Zhang (21-1) [1]
One bout removed from a 42-second stoppage of Jessica Andrade, Zhang showcased an ability to prevail in a battle of attrition, as she outdueled Joanna Jedrzejczyk in a five-round classic to retain the strawweight crown in the UFC 248 co-main event. Zhang extended her winning streak to 21 thanks to superior punching power that left a grotesque hematoma on Jedrzejczyk’s forehead. Zhang’s victory was all the more impressive considering that her camp was altered due to coronavirus concerns in her homeland of China. Zhang and Jedrzejczyk could be destined for a rematch down the road, but it will be difficult to top their first meeting, which ranks as perhaps the greatest female fight of all-time..2. Rose Namajunas (9-4) [2]
A devastating slam KO defeat to Jessica Andrade at UFC 237 had Namajunas contemplating retirement, but ultimately “Thug” Rose decided against calling it a career. The former champion made a triumphant return to the Octagon at UFC 251, where she racked up on early lead on the scorecards and held off a hard-charging Andrade down the stretch for a split-decision triumph at “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi. While a trilogy with Andrade could be in store someday, Namajunas likely earned herself a shot at regining 115-pound champion Weili Zhang.3. Jessica Andrade (20-8) [3]
Andrade struggled to solve the Rose Namajunas puzzle for two rounds at UFC 251, but “Bate Estaca” made things interesting with a rally in the third round of their strawweight rematch in Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately for Andrade it wasn’t enough, as the Brazilian dropped a split decision to Namajunas in contest that earned “Fight of the Night” honors. After winning seven of eight UFC appearances June 2016 to May 2019, the Brazilian has dropped back-to-back fights in the Octagon. Andrade will try her hand at 125 pounds when she meets Jessica Eye at a UFC event on Oct. 17.4. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4) [4]
Jedrzejczyk was all heart at UFC 248. Despite being left nearly unrecognizable by the end of her co-headlining bout with Weili Zhang, the Polish star never kept pressing the action in the strawweight championship clash. Although she outlanded her foe in significant strikes, Jedrzejczyk wasn’t as powerful as the Chinese champion in striking exchanges and came up just short in a split-decision defeat. Once one of the sport’s most dominant champions, Jedrzejczyk only raised her stock despite falling to 6-4 in UFC title fights.5. Tatiana Suarez (8-0) [5]
Suarez may still very well be a future champion, but she showed some flaws in a victory over Nina Ansaroff at UFC 238. The American used her wrestling to bank two rounds on the judges scorecards, but faded in the third round. Perhaps even more concerning was Ansaroff’s ability to land offense in the final stanza. Nonetheless, Suarez captured a unanimous decision for her fifth consecutive triumph within the Las Vegas-based promotion. The Milennia MMA product could be an interesting potential foe for champion Weili Zhang, though she may need another victory to truly enter the title conversation.6. Nina Ansaroff (10-6) [6]
Ansaroff didn’t beat the highly-touted Tatiana Suarez at UFC 238, but she did show some chinks in the American wrestler’s armor. Ansaroff spent most of the first two stanzas on her back but did a decent job neutralizing Suarez’s offense with her guard. In Round 3, Ansaroff took advantage of her tiring opponent to land 30 significant strikes — more than Suarez’s first-four UFC foes landed combined. Nonetheless, Ansaroff dropped a unanimous decision to see her four-bout winning streak snapped. Ansaroff announced that she will be taking a year off from MMA to start a family with fiancee Amanda Nunes.7. Claudia Gadelha (18-4) [7]
Gadelha has shown an uncanny knack for emerging on the right side of narrow split decisions of late, both against Carla Esparza in 2018 and in the UFC on ESPN 8 co-main event vs. Angela Hill on May 16. While it was a highly contentious result, “Claudinha” was able to win for the third time in four outings against Hill thanks to her ability to hold her own in exchanges with the high-output “Overkill.” Up next, the 31-year-old Brazilian will lock horns with Xiaonan Yan on Sept. 26.8. Carla Esparza (17-6) [8]
Esparza relied on her wrestling and top control to eke out a split-decision triumph over Marina Rodriguez in a clash of strawweight contenders at UFC on ESPN 14. Despite being bloodied and battered, “Cookie Monster” showed her grit and will in earning her fourth consecutive triumph in the Las Vegas-based promotion. Esparza is still eyeing a rematch with Claudia Gadelha in the future.9. Cynthia Calvillo (9-1-1) [9]
Calvillo established herself as a person to watch at flyweight in the UFC on ESPN 10 headliner, taking a clear-cut unanimous decision over former title challenger Jessica Eye in Las Vegas on June 13. It’s not as though she was unsuccessful at strawweight, either. The Tiger Muay Thai export lost just once in her first seven Octagon appearances at 115 pounds, though she missed weight badly for a majority draw against Marina Rodriguez in December.10. [10] Marina Rodriguez (12-1-2)
Rodriguez struggled to stay upright against Carla Esparza at UFC on ESPN 14, but she still delivered her share of punishment in a split-decision defeat. With two majority draws and the aforementioned split-decision setback already on her ledger, Rodriguez has proven to be a tough-luck competitor in UFC bouts. The Brazilian muay Thai specialist also has already proven herself to be a difficult test for many of the division’s top talents.Other Contenders: Tecia Torres, Michelle Waterson, Brianna Van Buren, Xiaonan Yan, Alexa Grasso.
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