Who is the world's best women's mixed martial artist, regardless of weight class? My latest top-10 ranking is listed below.
In addition, here is my men's pound-for-pound ranking.
Note: Results through June 11, 2018.
= champion
1. Cris Justino
• Record: 20-1
• Div.: Featherweight (Invicta FC/UFC)
• Last: W (TKO1) Yana Kunitskaya, March 3, 2018
• Next: TBD
Cyborg faced one of the most difficult challenges of her career in Holly Holm, to close out 2017. She opened 2018 with a much easier foe -- former Invicta FC bantamweight champion Yana Kunitskaya. That resulted in a first-round finish. A potential super fight against Amanda Nunes looms.
2. Amanda Nunes
• Record: 16-4
• Div.: Bantamweight (UFC)
• Last: W (TKO5) Raquel Pennington, May 12, 2018
• Next: TBD
Nunes has been the stabilizing force the UFC's bantamweight division has lacked since the demise of Ronda Rousey. She's now finished the likes of Miesha Tate, Rousey and Raquel Pennington, as well as a decision over Valentina Shevchenko.
3. Valentina Shevchenko
• Record: 15-3
• Div.: Flyweight (UFC)
• Last: W (Sub2) Priscila Cachoeira, Feb. 3, 2018
• Next: TBD
Shevchenko's only two losses in the UFC were to Amanda Nunes, and the rematch was arguably too close to call. Since that loss in 2017, Shevchenko has moved down to the 125-pound weight class and looked absolutely outstanding in a win over Priscila Cachoeira in February. Many are pegging her the future UFC flyweight champ.
• Record: 9-3
• Div.: Strawweight (UFC)
• Last: W (UD) Joanna Jedrzejczyk, April 7, 2018
• Next: TBD
Namajunas took down the "Boogie Man" that was Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Twice. She's coming into her own, and just now entering the prime of her career. Namajunas is the perfect blend of skill and experience at this point. She's appeared in three UFC title defenses, and hasn't even hit her late 20s.
5. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
• Record: 14-2
• Div.: Strawweight (UFC)
• Last: L (UD) Rose Namajunas, April 7, 2018
• Next: UFC Fight Night on July 28 vs. Tecia Torres
After Jedrzejczyk lost her title to Rose Namajunas, the UFC gave her the immediate title shot she deserved. She came up short with that opportunity, however, and now has decisions to make. She can stay at 115, and still do just fine there, but a to move to fresh matchups at 125 pounds will be tempting.
6. Jessica Andrade
• Record: 18-6
• Div.: Strawweight (UFC)
• Last: W (UD) Tecia Torres, Feb. 24, 2018
• Next: TBD
Andrade is right back in line for a UFC title shot, just two fights removed from her decision loss to Joanna Jedrzejczyk in 2017. Convincing wins against Claudia Gadelha and Tecia Torres have her knocking on that UFC championship door once again.
7. Claudia Gadelha
• Record: 15-3
• Div.: Strawweight (UFC)
• Last: W (SD) Carla Esparza on June 9, 2018
• Next: TBD
Prior to September, Gadelha's reputation was basically she could beat any strawweight in the world besides Joanna Jedrzejczyk. That is no longer the case, as she dropped a three-round decision to Jessica Andrade. We'll see where she goes from here.
8. Karolina Kowalkiewicz
• Record: 12-2
• Div.: Strawweight (UFC)
• Last: W (UD) Felice Herrig, April 7, 2018
• Next: TBD
Kowalkiewicz snapped the first losing skid of her career by absolutely dominating Jodie Esquibel in October, and is now back on a winning streak after defeating Felice Herrig. Kowalkiewicz has a win over current champ Rose Namajunas.
9. Raquel Pennington
• Record: 9-5
• Div.: Bantamweight (UFC)
• Last: L (TKO5) Amanda Nunes, May 12, 2018
• Next: TBD
Pennington returned from a long injury layoff to challenge Amanda Nunes for a UFC title in May. She came up short, and had to be talked into answering the bell for the final round of a difficult fight. She remains in the prime of her career though, and another shot at UFC gold seems likely, down the road.
10. Germaine de Randamie
• Record: 7-3
• Div.: Featherweight (UFC)
• Last: W (UD5) Holly Holm, Feb. 11, 2017
• Next: TBD
De Randamie remains in the top 10 pound-for-pound rankings, despite being stripped of her UFC featherweight title. She says she's headed back to bantamweight, after refusing to face Cris Justino. And her image is in need of rebuilding.