Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Women’s Atomweight

1. Ayaka Hamasaki (14-2)

Though she has enjoyed a distinguished career as a strawweight, Hamasaki would surely love to forget her return to 115 pounds, as the Invicta atomweight champion was torn apart by Brazilian Livia Renata Souza in 101 seconds in March. What better way to forget such a loss than to go back and defend the crown of the division you rule? Unfortunately for the 35-year-old Japanese fighter, her next title defense still figures to come against Jinh Yu Frey, who was soundly besting Hamasaki in their September 2016 Invicta title fight until the ringside physician halted the challenger on a cut.

2. Seo Hee Ham (19-8)

After several tough bouts did not break her way, Ham was released from the UFC with a 1-3 promotional record and a lot of what-if propositions. If one of those hypotheticals involved how Ham would do back in her natural weight class, well, now we know. Upon returning to 105 pounds, Ham ran roughshod over veteran Mina Kurobe to take Road Fighting Championship’s vacant atomweight title. Then on Dec. 23, she blew away former Invicta title challenger Jinh Yu Frey in the first round. “Hamderlei Silva” is back in full effect.

3. Kanna Asakura (11-2)

Barely 20 years old, the tough-wrestling Asakura was a breakthrough sensation in 2017. Still learning the MMA game on the job, the Paraestra Matsudo product went 6-0 and more importantly closed the year in style. A dark horse in Rizin Fighting Federation’s women’s 108-pound grand prix, Asakura dominated Sylwia Juskiewicz, Maria Oliveira Mota and the previously undefeated Rena Kubota to take the tournament crown.

4. Jinh Yu Frey (6-3)

Not content to sit around and wait for another Invicta booking after coming so close to winning the company’s 105-pound title from Ayaka Hamasaki 15 months ago, Frey took the daring step to tangle with recently returned atomweight Seo Hee Ham for the Road Fighting Championship atomweight crown on Dec. 23 in Seoul. There is a reason it was considered risky business: Ham tagged Frey and pounded her out in the first round.

5. Herica Tiburcio (11-4)

It was nearly two years ago that Ayaka Hamasaki upset Tiburcio to take the Invicta atomweight title. It was over 14 months ago that Tiburcio came back to the Invicta cage, only to be upset by Jinh Yu Frey. Now, the 25-year-old Brazilian has put together back-to-back decision wins over Simona Soukupova and Tessa Simpson and may not be far off from another crack at Invicta’s 105-pound strap.

6. Mina Kurobe (11-3)

A winner of six of her last seven bouts, Kurobe picked up the Deep Jewels atomweight title when she earned a decision over Naho Sugiyama in February. The 40-year-old grappler will make the first defense of her title at Deep Jewels 19 on March 10, when she faces Satomi Takano -- a woman she previously choked out in the first round back in November 2014.

7. Rena Kubota (6-1)

In her Rizin Fighting Federation 108-pound grand prix semifinal on Dec. 31, Shoot Boxing star Kubota looked outstanding, as she pulverized Spain’s Irene Cabello Rivera in Round 1 and headed into the tournament final as a favorite. However, the 26-year-old suffered the first loss of her pro MMA career in the final, where she was choked out by Kanna Asakura.

8. Naho Sugiyama (12-5)

Sugiyama topped Emi Tomimatsu in June to become Deep Jewels atomweight champion. Unfortunately, in her first title defense on Feb. 25, she could not replicate her November 2015 win over Mina Kurobe, dropping a unanimous decision and the strap. The 39-year-old “Sugi Rock” is now 4-2 in her last six contests.

9. Maria Oliveira Mota (10-3)

Another product of Brazil’s Parana Vale Tudo, which is home to perhaps the deepest stable of women’s MMA talent in the world, Mota impressed in her Rizin 108-pound grand prix quarterfinal against Alyssa Garcia in October and dominated the American with sharp striking. However, Oliveira had her nine-fight winning streak snapped on New Year’s Eve in the tournament semifinals, as she had no answer the grappling of Kanna Asakura, who armbarred her in the second round.

10. Ashley Cummins (6-4)

Cummins opted to move down to 105 pounds following her loss on “The Ultimate Fighter 23,” and the move continues to pay dividends. Coming off of a competitive loss to former Invicta title challenger Jinh Yu Frey in July, “Smashley” responded handily at Invicta 27 on Jan. 13, pounding out a unanimous verdict over Stephanie Alba. Cummins has won three of her last four.

Other Contenders: Kyra Batara, Lisbeth Lopez Silva, Tessa Simpson, Satomi Takano, Emi Tomimatsu.