Valentina Shevchenko Tops Women’s UFC Rankings

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 25: (L-R) Dana White places the championship belt on Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan after her UFC flyweight championship fight during the UFC 266 event on September 25, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Valentina Shevchenko is now considered the consensus baddest woman in the UFC, according to the promotion’s official rankings.

“The Bullet” assumed the women’s pound-for-pound top rankings after previous No. 1 Amanda Nunes lost her bantamweight title to Julianna Pena at UFC 269 on Saturday.

Shevchenko is the UFC flyweight champion, where she has amassed six consecutive title defenses and seven straight title wins since defeating former strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the belt in December 2018. Shevchenko holds a submission win over Pena, though she has two decision losses to Nunes in her career.

Amanda Nunes falls to #3 in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings behind Valentina Shevchenko and Rose Namajunas. pic.twitter.com/pnVDMZnAVo

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) December 14, 2021

Nunes dropped to the No. 3 slot in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings, behind Shevchenko and strawweight queen Rose Namajunas. Despite losing her bantamweight strap, Nunes is still the promotion’s featherweight title holder. Nunes holds two wins over Shevchenko, as well as victories over Cris Cyborg, Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Holly Holm, and Germaine deRandamie. It was her first loss since Cat Zingano submitted her in 2014.

Pena, meanwhile, has shot up to No. 4 on the list – one spot behind Nunes. Pena submitted Nunes in the second round of their bantamweight title fight. “The Venezuelan Vixen” carries wins over Sara McMann, inaugural UFC flyweight champion Nicco Montano, Jessica Eye and Zingano.

The MMA world was turned on its axis when Pena, a +700 underdog, finished Nunes to claim the bantamweight title. Nunes posted on Instagram ” I undoubtedly accept the rematch” against Pena.