Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

---

Women’s Strawweight

1. Weili Zhang (26-3) | UFC [1]

Zhang was more dominant than anyone could have imagined in the UFC 312 co-main event, as she overwhelmed Tatiana Suarez for four rounds after dropping the opening stanza. Not only did Zhang batter her opponent on the feet, but she also controlled the vast majority of the grappling exchanges against an accomplished wrestler. “Magnum” is now tied for the most title victories (six) in UFC strawweight history. Zhang has elected to vacate her 115-pound belt and will move up to challenge Valentina Shevchenko for flyweight gold at UFC 322.

2. Virna Jandiroba (22-3) | UFC [2]

Jandiroba likely cemented her claim to a title shot at UFC 314, as she outgrappled Xiaonan Yan for the better part of three rounds to earn a unanimous decision triumph at the Kaseya Center in Miami on April 12. The former Invicta FC champ has won five straight in UFC competition, and she will next vie for the vacant strawweight strap against Mackenzie Dern at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi.

3. Xiaonan Yan (19-5, 1 NC) | UFC [3]

Yan struggled to remain upright against Virna Jandiroba at UFC 314, ultimately losing a unanimous decision in a preliminary strawweight affair at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The Team Alpha Male representative has lost two of her last three Octagon appearances — including a decision defeat to Weil Zhang in a title bout at UFC 300. With her 36th birthday on the horizon, “Fury” is looking at a long road back to title contention.

4. Tatiana Suarez (11-1) | UFC [4]

After a discouraging loss to Weili Zhang in a title bout at UFC 312, Suarez returned to the win column at Noche UFC, where she used her grappling to take a three-round verdict over Amanda Lemos in San Antonio on Sept. 13. Suarez had to survive some harrowing moments late in Round 3, however, which still doesn’t bode well for her future championship hopes. Suarez has been victorious in eight of nine Octagon appearances overall.

5. Amanda Lemos (15-5-1) | UFC [5]

After getting outgrappled for two rounds, Lemos staged a furious third-round rally against Tatiana Suarez in their Noche UFC encounter. While the Brazilian had her foe on the retreat, it was too little, too late for “Amandinha,” who lost for the third time in her last five outings. Those defeats have all come against some of the division’s top talents: Weili Zhang, Virna Jandiroba and Suarez.

6. Iasmin Lucindo (18-6) | UFC [6]

With youth, speed and power on her side, Lucindo cruised to a unanimous decision triumph over veteran Angela Hill at UFC Vegas 109 on Aug. 9. The victory allows the 23-year-old Brazilian to rebound from a loss to Amanda Lemos at UFC 313 and keeps her in the thick of contention at 115 pounds. Lucindo has won five of her last six Octagon appearances overall.

7. Mackenzie Dern (15-5) | UFC [7]

Dern avenged a previous loss to Amanda Ribas in impressive fashion in the UFC Vegas 101 headliner, as she submitted her Brazilian foe with an armbar at the 4:56 mark of Round 3. After dropping a unanimous verdict to Ribas in their first meeting in October 2019, Dern’s patience was impressive as she methodically worked to set up the fight ending maneuver. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has now rebounded from the first two-bout skid of her pro career with back-to-back triumphs over Ribas and Lupita Godinez. That was enough to earn Dern a shot at the vacant strawweight belt in a rematch against Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321.

8. Lupita Godinez (14-5) UFC [8]

Godinez earned a significant victory at UFC 319, as she rode a strong start to a three-round verdict over former 115-pound champ Jessica Andrade in Chicago on Aug. 16. “Loopy” has put together back-to-back wins over Andrade and Julia Polastri in 2025 to improve to 9-5 during her Octagon tenure.

9. Jessica Andrade (26-15) | UFC [9]

Though she was quite competitive down the stretch, Andrade couldn’t overcome a slow start in a unanimous decision loss to Lupita Godinez at UFC 319 in Chicago. Though “Bate Estaca” is just 33 years old, her 2-6 promotional record since February 2020 makes it feel as though the downside of her career has already arrived.

10. Tabatha Ricci (12-3) UFC [10]

Ricci showed a new dimension to her game at UFC Abu Dhabi, as she stunned Amanda Ribas with an elbow and finished her foe with a barrage of follow-up punches at the 2:59 mark of the second round of their July 26 encounter. Not only did “Baby Shark” rebound from a loss to Xiaonan Yan at UFC Fight Night 248, but she earned just her second finish in seven promotional triumphs.

Other Contenders: Angela Hill, Gillian Robertson, Tecia Pennington, Denise Gomes, Jaqueline Amorim.

Jump To »
HEAVYWEIGHT
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
MIDDLEWEIGHT
WELTERWEIGHT
LIGHTWEIGHT
FEATHERWEIGHT
BANTAMWEIGHT
FLYWEIGHT
WOMEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT
WOMEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT
WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT
WOMEN'S STRAWWEIGHT
WOMEN'S ATOMWEIGHT