The first openly gay fighter to win a UFC title is known as “The Lioness” because of her ferocious fighting style. The Brazilian has 18 wins in 22 fights, 13 by knockout, since her debut in 2011. She is the first female fighter in UFC history to win two titles, bantamweight and featherweight, which she held simultaneously. In December 2018, she ended Cris Cyborg’s reign as featherweight champion in just 51 seconds in a whirlwind performance that rocked the MMA world. Cyborg’s unbeaten run had gone back 20 fights and 11 years. Nunes also single-handedly ended Ronda Rousey’s career in 2016, knocking her out in 48 seconds. She is an example of what it takes to succeed in MMA.

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2. Paige VanZant

The 25-year-old American’s nickname, “12 Gauge,” is testament to her long-time love of hunting and shooting. She was a tomboy from an early age and has an athletic background, leading to success in the ring. VanZant is a champion of female empowerment – she went from being bullied in school to the point where she legally changed her last name, to winning 8 of her 12 fights, two by knockout. She has a range of interests. Outside MMA, she has appeared on Chopped and Dancing with the Stars. She’s also modelled for Nike and Columbia Sportswear. Who says you can’t have it all?

3. Michelle Waterson

Also known as the “Karate Hottie”, the 33-year-old American has a black belt in American freestyle karate and she has trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Wushu, boxing, wrestling and Muay Thai. Waterson began as a ring girl but wanted to become a fighter, and she made her debut in 2007. Since then, she’s won 17 of her 24 fights. She’s also appeared in the movies MacGruber (2010), The Signal (2014), and Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), so if you missed her fights, you can still catch her on-screen!

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4. Rose Namajunas

The 27-year-old American is ranked No 2 in the UFC strawweight division. Namajunas has a long history as a fighter, starting in taekwondo as a 5-year-old, before going on to study kick-boxing, jiu-jitsu, wrestling and karate. She started to compete in MMA in 2010, and made her professional debut in 2013. Her accomplishments include the 2017 MMA Fighter of the Year and the 2017 Women’s MMA Knockout of the Year. She has beaten Joanna Jędrzejczyk twice – once by knockout, the other time by submission.

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5. Joanna Jędrzejczyk

The Polish fighter is ranked No 4 in the UFC women’s strawweight division. Her love for Muay Thai, which she began at 16, led her to five world titles, including the WKN World Championship, WBKF Championship and WKF European Championship. She made her professional MMA debut in 2012 and went on to win her first 14 fights. UFC president Dana White has described Jędrzejczyk as “pound-for-pound [she is the] best female fighter on earth”. She became the first-ever female European UFC champion in 2015 when she won the strawweight title. She defended the title five times, but in her sixth defence Rose Namajunas claimed her crown. Her Instagram is full of photos of her swimming, hiking and travelling, showing that she’s an active explorer and well-rounded person.

With their fierce competitive streaks, these fighters are definitely worth following.

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