On the first Wednesday of every month, theScore's MMA editors compile a list of the top 10 fighters in each of the major weight classes.
Rankings
Heavyweight | Light Heavyweight
Middleweight | Welterweight
Lightweight | Featherweight
Bantamweight | Flyweight
Women: Bantamweight | Strawweight
| Ranking | Fighter |
|---|---|
| 1 | Holly Holm |
| 2 | Ronda Rousey |
| 3 | Cat Zingano |
| 4 | Miesha Tate |
| 5 | Amanda Nunes |
| 6 | Sara McMann |
| 7 | Julianna Pena |
| 8 | Bethe Correia |
| 9 | Valentina Shevchenko |
| 10 | Tonya Evinger |
- After much deliberation, it turns out that Holly Holm will fight again before any rematch with Ronda Rousey. Stepping up to the plate is Miesha Tate, a woman that many feel has battled her way back to another crack at a UFC title. Even better for Tate, her fight with Holm is set as the co-main event on the massive UFC 196 card on March 5.
- Of course, that still leaves the possibility of Rousey returning to face either Holm or Tate at UFC 200 in July. "Rowdy" recently made her first major televised appearance since her dramatic title loss when she hosted "Saturday Night Live" on Jan. 23. The episode was a ratings success, proving that Rousey is still a draw no matter what she does.
- Don't expect much of a shakeup in the women's 135-pound rankings in February. There are three events and only UFC Fight Night 82 on Feb. 21 has any female action. Fringe contender Marion Reneau faces Ashlee Evans-Smith and Sarah Moras meets former Invicta titleholder Lauren Murphy.
- Looking ahead, Valentina Shevchenko looks to capitalize on a successful debut against Sarah Kaufman when she faces rising contender Amanda Nunes at UFC 196. On April 16, Bethe Correia fights for the first time since losing to Rousey last August. She faces Raquel "Rocky" Pennington at UFC on FOX 19.
