I would like to list the rules of the new rankings system, the first of which is in the past fighters have been ranked despite inactivity for the past 12 months. From now on a fighter is ineligible past twelve months of inactivity and is also ineligible if he/she is serving a drug related suspension.
Also weight class “floaters” has become an issue in rankings (fighters that have transitioned from weight class to weight class depending on the fight and opponent). These fighters will be dealt on an individual basis but cannot be ranked in more than one weight class at MMA Freak. Also in the past, some weight classes have used a champions ranking system similar to the UFC which will no longer be used.
The women’s rankings are based on the monthly Unified Women’s Rankings formerly known as the WAMMA Women’s Rankings. I would like to quote the website for the official rankings:
“The Unified Women’s Professional MMA Rankings are assembled each month by a panel of journalists from multiple MMA websites and publications. These rankings were the first women’s mixed martial arts rankings by division and weight class and are considered by most media outlets as the official women’s MMA rankings. Fighters under suspension or who have not competed within the past 12 months are not eligible to be ranked. Fighters who vacate a weight class will no longer be ranked in that division.”
Note that MMA Freak is NOT a part of the panel, but does endorse the Unified system as our primary rankings with exceptions:
Featherweights (136-145 pounds)
1. Cris “Cyborg” Justino (12-1, 1NC) – Invicta FC Champion
2. Marloes “Rumina” Coenen (21-6) – Invicta FC
3. Julia “The Jewel” Budd (6-2) – Invicta FC
4. Faith Van Duin (4-0) – Storm MMA
5. Pannie “Banzai” Kianzad (4-0) – ProFC
6. Maria Hougaard (5-4) – Regional
7. Talita “Treta” Nogueira (6-0) – Regional
8. Ashlee Evans-Smith (2-0) – CFA/WSOF
9. Latoya Walker (2-0) – Regional
10. Annalisa “No Fear” Bucci (6-2) – Regional
Other Contenders:
11. Peggy Morgan – 12. Fiona Muxlow – 13. Kate Da Silva – 14. Charmaine Tweet – 15. Gabby Holloway
Bantamweights (126-135 pounds)
1. “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey (8-0) – UFC Champion
2. Alexis “Alley Gator” Davis (15-5) – UFC
3. “Alpha” Cat Zingano (8-0) – UFC
4. Jessica “Evil” Eye (11-1) – UFC
5. Sarah Kaufman (16-3) – UFC
6. Sara McMann (7-0) – UFC
7. Miesha “Cupcake” Tate (13-5) – UFC
8. Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche (9-4) – UFC
9. Lauren Murphy (8-0) – Invicta FC Champion
10. Shayna “Queen of Spades” Baszler (15-8) – UFC
Other Contenders:
11. Tonya Evinger – 12. Sarah D’Alelio – 13. Amanda Nunes – 14. Leslie Smith – 15. Jessica Andrade
Flyweights (116-125 pounds)
1. Barb “Little Warrior” Honchak (9-2) – Invicta FC Champion
2. Vanessa Porto (16-6) – Invicta FC
3. Leslie “The Peacemaker” Smith (6-4-1) – Invicta FC
4. Jennifer Maia (7-3-1) – Invicta FC
5. Kalindra Faria (12-3-1) – Regional
6. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (4-0) – Regional
7. Sarah “Too Sweet” Alpar (4-2) – KOTC
8. Julia Berezikova (7-4) – Regional
9. Juliana “Julie” Werner (7-3) – Legacy FC
10. Nina “The Strina” Ansaroff (6-3) – Invicta FC
Other Contenders:
11. Zoila Gurgel – 12. Alexa Grasso – 13. Pearl Gonzalez – 14. Tina Lähdemäki – 15. DeAnna Bennett
Strawweights (106-115 pounds)
1. Jessica “Jag” Aguilar (16-4) – WSOF
2. Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza (9-2) – Invicta FC/UFC
3. Claudia “Claudinha” Gadelha (11-0) – Invicta FC/UFC
4. Joanne Calderwood (8-0) – Invicta FC/UFC
5. Ayaka Hamasaki (9-1) – Deep Jewels/Invicta FC
6. Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres (4-0) – Invicta FC/UFC
7. Katja “Killer Bunny” Kankaanpää (8-1-1) – Invicta FC
8. Mizuki Inoue (7-1) – Deep Jewels/Invicta FC
9. Felice “Lil Bulldog” Herrig (9-5) – Invicta FC/UFC
10. Bec “Rowdy” Hyatt (5-3) – Invicta FC/UFC
Other Contenders:
11. Alida Gray – 12. Patricia Vidonic – 13. Stephanie Eggink – 14. Herica Tiburcio – 15. Emi Fujino
Atomweights (96-105 pounds)
1. Michelle Waterson (11-3) – Invicta FC Champion
2. Jessica Penne (11-2) – Invicta FC
3. Seo Hee Ham (12-5) – Deep Jewels/Gladiator
4. Naho “Sugi Rock” Sugiyama (9-3) – Deep Jewels/Invicta FC
5. Amber “The Bully” Brown (3-1) – Pancrase/KOTC
6. Yasuko “Ikuko” Tamada (15-8-3) – Deep Jewels
7. Lacey “The Ladie” Schuckman (9-7) – Invicta FC
8. Simona Soukupova (4-3-1) – Invicta FC
9. “Sassy” Cassie Rodish (4-4) – Invicta FC
10. Sadae “Manhoef” Numata (5-2-1) – Deep Jewels
Other Contenders:
11. Diana Rael – 12. Amy Davis – 13. Jinh Yu – 14. Tessa Simpson – 15. Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc