Leading Female UFC Contenders of the Current Year

Leading Female UFC Contenders of the Current Year

Fierce Female Fighters of UFC 2024

Step into the octagon with us as we dive into the most electrifying women who graced the UFC mat in 2024, according to Quintin van Jaarsveld.

🥊 #5: Raquel PenningtonNicknamed the "Rocky" of the UFC, Pennington (16-9) claimed the unlikely champion title at UFC 297, marking the start of an unforgettable year. With a relentless work ethic, she outworked Mayra Bueno Silva to snatch the vacant bantamweight belt, even if she eventually lost it in a close fight against Julianna Pena.

🥊 #4: Julianna PenaThe comeback queen of 2024, Pena (12-5) earned her spot back at the top after a decade-long journey. Challenging Pennington for the bantamweight title at UFC 307, she snatched a split decision win and regained the title she'd previously lost to Amanda Nunes.

🥊 #3: Zhang Weili"Magnum" continued to leave her mark by defending her strawweight title against Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 in April. With this victory, Zhang (25-3) solidified her status as the best at 115 pounds, making history as she and Yan became the first Chinese fighters to compete for a UFC title.

🥊 #2: Kayla HarrisonArriving in the UFC in 2024, Harrison (18-1) quickly made her presence known. A former Olympic gold medalist in judo and PFL tournament champion, she easily overpowered Holly Holm in her promotional debut and secured the #1 contender position with a decision win over Ketlen Vieira later in the year.

🥊 #1: Valentina ShevchenkoCrowning the Female Fighter of 2024 is Shevchenko (24-4-1), who reclaimed her flyweight title with an outstanding performance against Alexa Grasso after a contentious draw in their previous fight. With dominant performances from start to finish, she solidified her status as the gold standard, pound-for-pound queen, and a titleholder destined to reign.

Keep an eye out for the 2024 rankings and annual awards once they're announced! These standout fighters cited here are a taste of what's to come as they continue to dominate in the years ahead.

Fun Fact: While准的万兹威尔 (Zhang Weili) has been the first-ever Chinese UFC champion, the 2024 UFC rankings are not yet available, giving us a glimpse of who could potentially make history in the next season.

source: https://www.sport24.co.za/rugrby/afrikaans/nieuws/fierce-female-fighters-of-ufc-2024-20231103

1. Raquel Pennington, nicknamed the "Rocky" of UFC, claimed an unlikely championship in 2024 at UFC 297, marking the beginning of an unforgettable year.
2. Julianna Pena, the comeback queen of 2024, reclaimed her spot at the top after a decade-long journey, defeating Pennington for the bantamweight title at UFC 307.
3. Zhang Weili, also known as "Magnum," defended her strawweight title against Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300, solidifying her position as the best at 115 pounds and making history as the first Chinese fighters to compete for a UFC title.
4. Kayla Harrison, an Olympic gold medalist in judo and PFL tournament champion, made her presence felt in UFC 2024 by overpowering Holly Holm in her promotional debut and securing the #1 contender position with a decision win over Ketlen Vieira.
5. Valentina Shevchenko, crowned the Female Fighter of 2024, reclaimed her flyweight title with a dominant performance against Alexa Grasso, solidifying her status as the gold standard, pound-for-pound queen, and a titleholder destined to reign.

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