Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Women’s Strawweight

1. Rose Namajunas (10-4) [1]

Namajunas authored perhaps the most shocking finish of anyone at UFC 261, when she floored Weili Zhang with a head kick and sealed her victory with follow-up hammerfists 1:18 into the opening round of their co-main event encounter. “Thug” Rose can now call herself a two-time UFC strawweight champion, making her the first woman in any weight class within the Las Vegas-based promotion to reclaim a title she had previously lost. Namajunas has run the gantlet in recent years, posting wins over pound-for-pound stalwarts like Zhang, Jessica Andrade and Joanna Jedrzejczyk (twice) since 2017.

2. Weili Zhang (21-2) [2]

More than a year removed from her all-time classic battle with Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248, Zhang saw a 21-bout professional winning streak come to an end at the hands – or more accurately, the foot – of Rose Namajunas at UFC 261. While Zhang seemed poised for stardom prior to her head-kick knockout loss to Namajunas on April 24, the 31-year-old Chinese star shouldn’t be too far removed from contention thanks to a record that included victories in her first five Octagon appearances.

3. Jessica Andrade (21-9) [3]

Andrade had no answers for Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 261, as she was taken down repeatedly and finished with elbows from the mounted crucifix position in the second-round of their flyweight title bout on April 24. The former strawweight champion’s next move should be interesting. She has lost three of her last four UFC appearances, including setbacks to newly-crowned strawweight queen Rose Namajunas and ex-champ Weili Zhang. However, her 1-1 record vs. Namajunas could set the stage for a trilogy bout down the road.

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. Xiaonan Yan (13-1, 1 NC) [5]

Crisp combination punching and solid takedown defense carried Yan to the biggest win of her career to date, as she earned a unanimous decision triumph over former 115-pound title challenger Claudia Gadelha at UFC on ESPN 17. The 31-year-old China Top Team representative has kicked off her promotional tenure with six consecutive triumphs, a run that includes other notable victories against Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Angela Hill. Next, she’ll square off against Carla Esparza on May 22.

6. Claudia Gadelha (18-5) [6]

Unable to impose her will through grappling, Gadelha was outmatched on the feet in a decision loss to Xiaonan Yan at UFC on ESPN 17 on Nov. 7. That defeat halted some positive momentum for the 31-year-old Brazilian, who had won three of her previous four bouts entering the matchup with Yan. It’s now been more than four years since Gadelha challenged for strawweight gold at “The Ultimate Fighter 23” finale in July 2016.

7. Carla Esparza (17-6) [7]

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 will attempt to slow the momentum of Xiaonan Yan in her next outing on May 22.

8. Cynthia Calvillo (9-2-1) [8]

Calvillo was unable to get inside against Katlyn Chookagian at UFC 255, and the result was a clear-cut unanimous decision defeat in her second appearance at 125 pounds at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Nov. 21. After an impressive five-round showing against Jessica Eye in her flyweight debut this past June, Calvillo struggled against another former title challenger to lose for just the second time in nine Octagon appearances.

9. Marina Rodriguez (13-1-2) [9]

After spending much of the opening frame on her back, Rodriguez derailed the hype surrounding Amanda Ribas, winning via technical knockout 54 seconds into Round 2 of their clash at UFC 257. After being competitive in a split-decision loss to Carla Esparza and a majority draw against Cynthia Calvillo in her previous two promotional appearances, the Brazilian muay Thai specialist showed that she is a dangerous presence at 115 pounds with an emphatic finish of a highly-touted adversary. Rodriguez will next meet Michelle Waterson at UFC on ESPN 24 in a bout that was promoted to the main event two weeks before the fight.

10. Tecia Torres (12-5) [10]

After original foe Angela Hill withdrew due from UFC 256 due to a positive COVID-19 test, Torres took her wrath out on replacement Sam Hughes, winning via doctor stoppage after one round in Las Vegas on Dec. 12. After a four-bout skid from 2018 to 2019, “The Tiny Tornado” has scored back-to-back triumphs against Hughes and Brianna Van Buren. Torres will look to face a more highly-ranked opponent in her next outing.

Other Contenders: Michelle Waterson, Brianna Van Buren, Alexa Grasso, Amanda Ribas, Mackenzie Dern.

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