In mixed martial arts (MMA), female competition only originated in the 1990s and in 2001, the Smackgirl competition was the only MMA option available to women. However, the UFC created the first female title in December 2012 in the Bantamweight division to add to the exposure given to women in MMA by Strikeforce. We look at 5 of the best female MMA practitioners in a sport where women are making massive strides.
List of Greatest Women Fighters Ever
Ronda Rousey
She is the former Strikeforce Bantamweight champion and the current UFC Bantamweight champion. Rousey became the first woman to sign for UFC and is undefeated in countless MMA fights with all wins coming by stoppage.
Rousey is deemed to be the #1 female fighter in the sport and previously won a World Championship silver medal in 2007 and a Bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics, both medals coming in Judo.
Miesha Tate
Tate is another rising star in the world of MMA and is reported to have signed a contract with the UFC in November 2012. She is a former Strikeforce Bantamweight champion and won 13 of her 16 bouts.
Tate is known for her grappling skills and won a silver medal in the World Grappling Championships in 2008.
Sarah Kaufman
She is yet another former Strikeforce Bantamweight champion and recently lost a title shot against Ronda Rousey, only her second defeat in 17 fights. Kaufman also won the Hardcore Championship Fighting Women’s Bantamweight crown in 2007.
Kaufman’s expertise lies in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and she is famed for her striking ability which has yielded 10 knockout victories.
Megumi Fujii
Although she has yet to win a major title, Fujii is rated as the #4 best female fighter in MMA and has an amazing record of 26 wins and only 2 defeats, both of which were on points. She has one of the longest ever winning streaks in MMA with 22 straight wins and her first defeat was controversial.
Fujii excels in Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with 19 of her wins coming via submission.
Jessica Aguilar
Aguilar hails from Mexico and is ranked #2 in the female MMA pound for pound rankings with 14 wins in 18 bouts. Despite her considerable talent, the Flyweight competitor has yet to win a major title though she recently scored an impressive points victory over Megumi Fujii.
Aguilar is known for her exceptional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, which gives her an advantage over many other fighters in her division on the ground.
Final Note
It seems likely that women will continue to receive greater coverage in the MMA arena and with some of the top stars signing up for UFC; female MMA fighters will start to become household names as they become recognized through the popularity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks