UFC Best Ever Series: 10 Greatest Women in UFC History

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 3/11/2026

Photo by Josh Hedges/ Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

10. Jessica Andrade

UFC Record - 17-13

Championship Record - 1-3

Holder of the most fights and wins of any Woman in UFC history, Andrade is one of the most underappreciated fighters in history. Her famous slam knockout of Rose Namajunas was her only title win in 4 tries but her 13-year career in the UFC when she was almost entirely within the Top-10 deserves a spot on this list.

9. Carla Esparza

UFC Record - 10-6

Championship Record - 2-2

Now retired, Esparza was the first Strawweight Champion in UFC history and one of the only two-time champions in the division's history. A late career resurgence at 33 saw her reclaim her belt before losing it to Zhang. Esparza's place among the best Female Wrestlers in the promotion would be closer to the top and arguably #1 as well, with her 44 takedowns being one of the highest count ever.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/ Getty Images

8. Julianna Pena

UFC Record - 8-4

Championship Record - 2-2

In truth, Pena's place on this list may entirely be because of her amazing underdog win over Amanda Nunes to end her 12-fight win streak. That being said her only 4 losses came to Nunes, Shevchenko, Harrison and de Randamie who are all Hall of Fame bound. Pena's career was marred with injuries but from 2020 to 2025 she faced the absolute best in the sport and came out on top more times than not.

7. Rose Namajunas

UFC Record - 12-7

Championship Record - 4-2

Rose's feel good championship win in 2021 was one of the most heartfelt moments in the sports history but far from her best. In her 12-year career, Namajunas has had some of the most iconic moments of any Woman in the sport and the 6th most championship wins. From her rivalries with Joanna and Zhang to her charisma, Rose will forever be a legend in the UFC.

Photo by Buda Mendes/ Getty Images

6. Cris Cyborg

UFC Record - 6-1

Championship Record - 3-1

Cyborg has the least amount of UFC fights on this list but she took advantage of every one of them. Only losing to Amanda Nunes, Cyborg was a freight train running through Strikeforce and UFC. Only making it to a decision once, Cyborg is probably the most sensational knockout artist we've ever seen from a Woman and if she had been in the UFC for more than 3 years would almost assuredly be in the Top-5.

5. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

UFC Record - 10-5

Championship Record - 6-3

Joanna was one of the early GOATS in Woman's MMA thanks to becoming the 2nd ever Strawweight Championship and defending her title a record 5 times in a row. Even after her reign, she would go on to have one of the best rivalries in the sport with Rose and to this day, one of the greatest fights the UFC has ever seen man or woman with Zhang. Joanna may have fallen off towards the end of her career but she will forever be one of the best and most iconic Woman in the UFC.

4. Weili Zhang

UFC Record - 11-3

Championship Record - 6-3

I had to put Zhang just ahead of Jedrzejczyk after she beat her twice but in truth, they are both 3a and 3b. Zhang ran through the entire Strawweight division and challenged the Flyweight champion Shevchenko in a losing effort in hopes of becoming a two-division champion. Zhang still has several years in the sport and very likely will regain her title she relinquished and didn't lose.

Photo by Matthew Stockman/ Getty Images

3. Ronda Rousey 

UFC Record - 6-2

Championship Record - 6-2

She may be #3 on this list, but if we were ranking the most IMPORTANT Woman in the UFC she'd be #1 by a landslide. Her first 6 fights in the UFC were a tidal wave for the sport only matched by Conor's around the same time. 6 straight finishes including the fastest submission in UFC history are marks we may never see again and in truth, if she had a few more fights she could easily have made #2 thanks to her importance alone.

2. Valentina Shevchenko 

UFC Record - 15-3-1

Championship Record - 11-2-1

#1 and #2 were always going to be the same and have spots on my greatest UFC fighters of all time list you can find here. Shevchenko's career is entering it's 11th year and has now tied for the most championship wins by a Woman in UFC history. In her career, she's only lost one time in 18 fights that wasn't against the woman we'll mention next. Starting as one of the most lethal kickboxers in the world, Shevchenko has now become one of the best wrestlers as well as she continues to dominate the sport with her latest win against Weili Zhang. She would be the GOAT, only if not for...

Photo by Esther Lin/ MMA Fighting

1. Amanda Nunes 

UFC Record - 16-2

Championship Record - 11-1

There was never going to be another name to top this list and in truth, as great as Valentina is, Nunes has put distance between them and any other woman in this sport. A late-career loss to an underdog Julianna Pena separated what would've been a 14-fight win streak to end her career. She is now tied for most championship victories with Valentina and has beaten 4 other woman on this list including Valentina twice.

To make her claim even more worthy, Nunes should be fighting Kayla Harrison later this year in what will be the biggest and most important fight in Woman's MMA history.

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-Z.D. (@DrapeauZak on Twitter)