5 greatest female fighters in UFC history

#2. Valentina Shevchenko – current UFC women's flyweight champion

Valentina Shevchenko is one of the UFC's most dominant champions right now

Right now, there are few UFC champions as dominant over their division as Valentina Shevchenko. In fact, based on what she achieved in the bantamweight division before dropping to flyweight, it’s easy to argue her status as a pound-for-pound great, too.

‘Bullet’ first debuted in the UFC at 135 pounds in late 2015. She marked herself out as a fighter to watch with her win over former Strikeforce champ Sarah Kaufman.

Despite being undersized, she was able to beat Holly Holm and Julianna Pena to earn a shot at UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes. She came up short against the 'Lioness’ via a split decision.

It’s what the Kyrgyzstani has achieved since moving down to 125 pounds in early 2018 that really sets her apart, though. Shevchenko defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the vacant UFC women's flyweight title at UFC 231. Since then, she’s reeled off five straight title defenses, thoroughly dominating every opponent that the UFC has put in front of her.

‘Bullet’ has looked so much better than her peers at flyweight that fighters such as Katlyn Chookagian and Jennifer Maia gained praise for even escaping the first round against her.

The only black mark on Shevchenko is that, realistically, the division she competes in doesn’t appear to be all that strong. However, dominating a weaker weight class is hardly a bad thing, just ask Demetrious Johnson.

And so right now, ‘Bullet’, who will defend her title for the sixth time at UFC 266 this weekend against Lauren Murphy, should comfortably be considered the second-best female fighter in UFC history.

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#1. Amanda Nunes – current UFC women's bantamweight and featherweight champion

Amanda Nunes is easily the greatest female fighter in UFC history

Standing head and shoulders above every other female fighter in UFC history is the reigning UFC women's bantamweight and featherweight champion, Amanda Nunes.

Not only is the 'Lioness’ the greatest female fighter that the octagon has ever seen, but she’s arguably amongst the top five fighters the promotion has ever seen, period.

Debuting in the UFC back in 2013, Nunes put together a record of 5-1 to earn a shot at then-UFC bantamweight champ Miesha Tate at UFC 200. Despite many fans favoring the champion, Nunes destroyed her in a one-sided fashion in the first round to claim the title.

At the time, few fans would’ve believed that they were witnessing the beginning of one of the UFC’s most dominant title reigns. However, Nunes cemented her legend just five months later by knocking out former champion Ronda Rousey in just 48 seconds.

Everything she’s done since then has only added to an already unbelievable list of accomplishments. 2018 saw the 'Lioness’ knock Cris Cyborg out to add the UFC featherweight title to her ledger. Since then, she’s defended both titles on a regular basis, taking her to a combined total of seven successful title defenses.

Some fans may well look down upon Nunes in comparison to great male champions like Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva due to a perceived lack of strong competition. However, the Brazilian has still beaten a total of six current or former UFC champions, basically rendering that argument moot.

Essentially, nobody has come close to what Nunes has achieved inside the octagon, making her far and away the UFC’s greatest ever female fighter.