Top 5 Women’s UFC Fights

In the wake of last night’s strawweight battle between Felice Herrig and Paige VanZant, which VanZant dominated Herrig and won by unanimous decision, I have put together a list of my top 5 women’s UFC fights.

Cat Zingano vs Miesha Tate

At the TUF 17 Finale, Cat Zingano faced Miesha Tate and they earned a FOTN bonus. In the first two rounds which was a complete back and forth, these ladies were both swinging leather and both attempting submissions. It was half way through the third round when Zingano landed a knee that dropped Tate to the mat. Zingano managed to land several more brutal knees and an elbow to Tate’s face which left Tate in a bloody mess causing the referee to intervene.

Ronda Rousey vs Miesha Tate 2

In the co-main event at UFC 168, Ronda Rousey defended her UFC women’s bantamweight title against her long-time rival Miesha Tate. These two went toe-to-toe several times and traded some heavy shots. Rousey showed off some beautiful judo throws and Tate even managed to get a takedown on Rousey. In the second, Tate managed to survive several submission attempts and made it to the third round before being submitted by Rousey. This was the first time Rousey had ever gone outside of the first in her MMA career.

Cat Zingano vs Amanda Nunes

At UFC 178, Cat Zingano made her return after a 17 month lay-off to face the Brazilian Amanda Nunes. Nunes completely dominated Zingano in the first, landing some very heavy strikes which Zingano somehow managed to survive. Zingano gave Nunes a taste of her own medicine in the second round, landing some vicious ground strikes. In the third, Zingano landed some knees and a beautiful throw ending up on top, opening up Nunes above her eye with elbows and finishing the fight.

Carla Esparza vs Joanna Jędrzejczyk

In the co-main event at UFC 185, Carla Esparza attempted to defend her UFC women’s strawweight title against Poland’s Joanna Jędrzejczyk. Jędrzejczyk completely outclassed Esparza, stuffing nearly all her takedown attempts and completely destroyed Esparza on the feet. Jędrzejczyk finished the fight in the second after unloading a flurry of strikes on Esparza that left her collapsed in the referee’s arms. Jędrzejczyk was convincingly crowned the new women’s UFC strawweight champion.

Raquel Pennington vs Jessamyn Duke

Not an official professional fight but definitely deserves a mention is Raquel Pennington and Jessamyn Duke’s fight on The Ultimate Fighter season 18. These ladies had an epic battle. It was a great stand up fight, they were constantly back and forth exchanging blows. Duke landing vicious knees and kicks and Pennington answered back with some hard punches that left Duke’s nose bloodied by the end of the first and Duke left Pennington with a cut above her eye by the end of the third. Duke looked slightly slower in the third and Pennington just kept pushing the pace and earned the win by decision.