Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Women’s Featherweight

1. Cristiane Justino (17-1, 1 NC)

When “Cyborg” balked at a title fight at UFC 208 in December and then was flagged by USADA for spironolactone, it looked like her reign atop the 145-pound division and a UFC run may be on ice. Instead, it now appears that the Invicta Fighting Championships titleholder will get a retroactive therapeutic use exemption, paving the way for her to challenge Germaine de Randamie for the UFC featherweight crown later this year.

2. Julia Budd (9-2)

One of the 145-pound division’s consistent standouts, Budd’s only career losses came back in 2011 to a pair of future UFC champions: Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes. However, “The Jewel” now has the chance to be defined by her own title aspirations. Budd will face women’s MMA pioneer Marloes Coenen to crown Bellator MMA’s first women’s featherweight champ at Bellator 174 on March 3.

3. Megan Anderson (8-2)

The interim Invicta featherweight titleholder, Anderson has knocked out her last four foes; and with Cristiane Justino’s forthcoming UFC ventures, she is due to be promoted to full champion. With that said, the 27-year-old Anderson is a charismatic, exciting striker and natural 145-pounder, so her own passage to the UFC in the future seems secure, as well.

4. Germaine de Randamie (7-3)

While it came in a quickly cobbled-together title fight to crown the first UFC women’s featherweight champion, de Randamie got her breakthrough MMA win at UFC 208 in Brooklyn, New York, where she won a unanimous verdict over former bantamweight queen Holly Holm. The win makes de Randamie just the second Dutch champion in UFC history, following after former heavyweight titleholder Bas Rutten in May 1999. The victory figures to put “The Iron Lady” on a collision course with divisional ruler Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino, as long as the Brazilian is cleared by USADA.

5. Marloes Coenen (23-7)

Coenen was upset by UFC veteran Alexis Dufresne under the Bellator banner in May, succumbing to a triangle choke. However, Dufresne weighed in at nearly 151 pounds and blew weight, so Coenen’s ranking status here is mitigated. Bellator does not seem to hold it against the women’s MMA trailblazer, either, as Coenen will contest the inaugural Bellator MMA women’s featherweight title versus Julia Budd at Bellator 174 on March 3.

6. Charmaine Tweet (9-6)

Tweet’s sensational spinning back fist knockout of the previously unbeaten Latoya Walker in May earned her a crack at the interim Invicta featherweight title on Jan. 14. However, in the main event of Invicta 21, the Saskatchewan, Canada, native was head kicked and knocked out by rising stalwart Megan Anderson. Tweet’s last three losses have come to divisional standouts Anderson, Cristiane Justino and Julia Budd.

7. Latoya Walker (5-1)

Walker started her pro career a dominant and sterling 5-0 but took her first career loss in May and did so in highlight-reel fashion. The 37-year-old Austin, Texas, native ate an awesome spinning back fist from Charmaine Tweet and suffered her first defeat at just 3:41 of the first round.

8. Arlene Blencowe (8-6)

Blencowe has gone 2-2 during her Bellator MMA tenure, taking wins over Adrienna Jenkins and Gabrielle Holloway while dropping losses to divisional elites Julia Budd and Marloes Coenen. Most recently, “Angerfist” took a fight at 135 pounds on Jan. 28 in her native Australia, knocking out Janay Harding in just 68 seconds.

9. Helena Kolesnyk (4-0, 1 NC)

Ukrainian kickboxing standout Kolesnyk is still largely an MMA neophyte but stepped up her activity in the sport in 2016, fighting four times for China’s WBK promotion while staying undefeated, albeit with the help of a fortunate no-contest. Nonetheless, Kolesnyk is 27 years old, exciting to watch and, frankly, is nicknamed “Pretty” for a reason, which could make her a compelling free agent for the UFC or Bellator MMA going forward.

10. Amanda Bell (4-4)

Bell on Feb. 4 fought under the King of the Cage banner in Lincoln City, Oregon, and picked up a unanimous decision over Bellator MMA veteran Gabrielle Holloway. The victory straightened out Bell’s pro record at .500, and while it may not sound like much, “The Ladykiller” is 4-2 in her last six appearances, with her losses coming to budding star Megan Anderson and veteran Faith van Duin, who has since moved to 135 pounds.

Other Contenders: Martyna Czech, Amber Leibrock, Leah Letson, Jessica Miele, Iony Razafiarison.

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