International Women’s Day: The Greatest Female Athletes in UFC History

Today is International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate the achievements of women across the globe. In the world of MMA, female fighters have a huge impact on the influence of the sport, and the athletes of the UFC are at the forefront of this.  

From pioneering champions who shattered glass ceilings to modern-day legends who continue to raise the bar and inspire the next generation of female athletes. As we honour this important day, let’s take a look back at some of the greatest female fighters to step into the Octagon.  

Ronda Rousey – The Pioneer 

You can’t talk about women’s MMA without mentioning Ronda Rousey. The first female to sign a UFC contract, and the person who pioneered women’s MMA. In 2013, Rousey joined the UFC and competed for the bantamweight title in her debut. The American mixed martial artist showed the world why the hype was real, with a round one submission to be crowned the first bantamweight champion. 

Ronda Rousey went on to win her next five UFC fights in the same manner, all by way of first-round finishes. Rousey’s impact went beyond the cage, she played a huge role in legitimising women’s MMA and proving that female fighters could headline major events.  

Amanda Nunes – The Greatest?  

We move on from the first female fighter to become a star in the UFC, to arguably the greatest to do so. Amanda Nunes is the only female fighter in history to hold and defend titles in two weight classes simultaneously, when she defeated Cris Cyborg via a first-round knockout.  

‘The Lioness’ tore through some of the sport’s biggest names including, Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg and Valentina Shevchenko. Nunes possessed some of the greatest attributes in UFC history, knockout power, elite grappling, and an unmatched fight IQ. She dominated both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions right up until her retirement in 2023.  

Valentina Shevchenko – The Technical Mastermind  

Valentina Shevchenko is a true mixed martial artist, combing world-class striking with elite grappling. The reigning UFC flyweight champion defended her belt on seven occasions before losing it to Alexa Grasso. Shevchenko went on to regain her title in 2024, winning via unanimous decision.  

The Kyrgyzstan great, showcased her incredible skill set against some of the greatest fighters in the world. Whether it was counter-striking or deadly kicks, Shevchenko made the flyweight division her own and captured the hearts of UFC fans around the world.

 

Rose Namajunas – The Silent Killer 

Rose Namajunas has made a career out of proving people wrong. Her win over Joanna Jędrzejczyk is the best example of her underdog story as Namajunas faced a barrage of verbal attacks by the champion prior to their bout. During the pre-fight press conferences, Namajunas chose to stay silent and allow her skills to do the talking. ‘Thug Rose’ did that exact thing when she knocked out Joanna Jędrzejczyk in the first round to be crowned the new strawweight champion.  

Rose Namajunas’ ability to remain calm under the most stressful of conditions, paired with a deadly skill set make her one of the most-rounded fighters in the sports history.  

Zhang Weili – The Magnum  

Zhang Weili became the first Chinese athlete to win a UFC championship when she won the strawweight title in 2022. Zhang’s epic battle with Joanna Jędrzejczyk will go down as one of the greatest fights of all-time as she knocked out the former champion via a brutal spinning backfist.  

Zhang Weili is the current strawweight champion, having defended the belt on three occasions. Her skills continue to grow every bout, with relentless pace, and a go-get-them attitude to opponents, Zhang Weili has cemented herself as one of the top fighters on the planet.  

Honourable Mentions 

While these five athletes stand out, the UFC has seen many incredible female fighters. Cris Cyborg’s terrifying power, Joanna Jędrzejczyk technical striking, and Holly Holm’s infamous head kick knockout of Ronda Rousey all deserve recognition. Each of these women have played a crucial role in elevating women’s MMA and making the sport what it is today.  

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let’s honour the warriors who have inspired the next generation of sporting champions.