Dakota Ditcheva sent shockwaves through the world of MMA last night, proving beyond doubt that she’s chasing a legacy akin to the likes of Valentina Shevchenko and Cris Cyborg.
With that in mind, we thought it a perfect time to give our top five pound-for-pound female fighters.
5) Dakota Ditcheva
Last night, Dakota Ditcheva, looked nothing short of spectacular, utilizing her electrifying striking to destroy Taila Santos, eventually closing the show with lethal body shots.
At just 25, it’s clear the English phenom has a very bright future ahead. Therefore, while her resume might not be quite as stacked as the women ahead of her on this list, in a few years’ time, there’s a very high chance she’ll be far and away the best female mixed martial artist on the planet.
WOW: ‘Shut up!’… Dakota Ditcheva mocks opponent with ‘model’ jibe during wild post-fight interview
4) Julianna Pena
Julianna Pena personifies resilience. When the world wrote her off against Amanda Nunes, she refused to listen, taking their doubt and using it to fuel the fire, which would eventually burn down the Brazilian’s kingdom.
While she later lost in the rematch, Pena proved her steely determination once again, beating Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 to conquer the bantamweight division for a second time.
3) Zhang Weili
Zhang Weili doesn’t just represent a nation, but a continent, proving Asia is home to some of the very best competitors on the planet.
The Chinese sensation has produced a plethora of top-level performances, regularly mesmerizing fans with her sublime striking displays.
And having compiled a four-fight win streak, the 34-year-old has undeniably cemented her place as the best strawweight there is.
2) Cris Cyborg
There’s perhaps never been a more frightening woman in combat sports than Cris Cyborg. Blessed with Earth-shattering power, the legend has conquered a plethora of the best promotions on the planet, including the UFC, Bellator and PFL.
She most recently participated in yet another tremendous contest, defeating Larissa Pacheco in a fight for the ages.
1) Valentina Shevchenko
With a style both dangerous and beautiful to watch, Valentina Shevchenko has set herself apart from the pack, operating with a level of skill perhaps unparalleled in all of female mixed martial arts.
Coming from a Muay Thai background, the UFC flyweight champion has a tremendous fight IQ, which she’s utilized to climb the mountain on two separate occasions.
Sheesh: Michael Bisping reveals he’s already reached out to Brendan Loughnane after PFL defeat