Leading Female UFC Contenders of the Year
UFC's Fiercest Female Fighters of 2024
Get ready to rumble! These battle-hardened divas ruled the Octagon in 2024, leaving a trail of conquered opponents in their wake. Here are the top five kick-ass ladies who captured our hearts and minds this year.
5: Raquel Pennington
Known as the "Rocky" of the UFC, the underrated Pennington (16-9) shocked the world by snatching the bantamweight belt in a stunning upset at UFC 297. She outworked Brazilian Mayra Bueno Silva throughout the fight and managed to secure the vacant title, making history in the process. Although she later lost the gold in a close fight, her title victory earned her a well-deserved spot among the year's best fighters.
4: Julianna Pena
In 2024, Pena (12-5) rose from the ashes like a true phoenix. After losing her bantamweight title to Amanda Nunes in 2013, she got a golden opportunity to reclaim the throne, facing none other than Pennington herself at UFC 307. Their epic showdown was over a decade in the making, dating back to their days on Season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2013. In a split decision win, Pena regained her place atop the 135-pound division and proved that she's still a force to be reckoned with.
3: Zhang Weili
Historical moments were aplenty for Zhang (25-3) this year. Not only did she defend her second reign as strawweight champion against fellow Chinese fighter Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 in April, but their clash also marked the first time two Chinese fighters ever competed for a UFC title. Zhang demonstrated her championship qualities by putting on a show and retaining her belt by decision, extending her win streak to four and cementing her status as the absolute best at 115 pounds.
2: Kayla Harrison
2024 was the year that the one-of-a-kind Harrison (18-1) finally made her UFC debut and made her presence known. A two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo and two-time PFL tournament champion, she dismissed former champion Holly Holm in her much-anticipated promotional debut in April and secured her spot as the No. 1 contender at 135 pounds with a decision win over Ketlen Vieira in October. Many hail her as the uncrowned champion and see her as a dominant force in the UFC.
1: Valentina Shevchenko
Without a doubt, Shevchenko (24-4-1) reigns supreme as the Female Fighter of the Year. After reclaiming the flyweight championship and putting her rivalry with Alexa Grasso to rest, she solidified her position as the gold standard of female MMA fighters. In a reign marked by dominance, grit, and a refusal to back down, she took back her title and sent a clear message to all contenders that she's here to stay.
As for Quintin van Jaarsveld, he's a decorated sports journalist with a reputation for delivering top-notch coverage of the UFC. With over 15 years of experience under his belt, he's certainly a name you can trust when it comes to all things MMA.
Join us as Quintin van Jaarsveld, a seasoned sports journalist, discusses the top female fighters of 2024 in this surprising lineup. At number five, Raquel Pennington, dubbed the 'Rocky' of the UFC, grabbed the bantamweight title in an astounding upset at UFC 297, showcasing her unparalleled sports-analysis skills throughout the match. Julianna Pena, the fighter who rose from the ashes like a phoenix, clinched the fourth spot with a split-decision victory over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307, reclaiming her bantamweight title after a decade-long rivalry traceable back to their days on The Ultimate Fighter Season 18. The third spot goes to Zhang Weili, who made history by making the first-ever Chinese UFC title fight against Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 in April, winning by decision and retaining her strawweight title. Kayla Harrison, a one-of-a-kind athlete with an Olympic gold and PFL tournament wins under her belt, made a splash in the UFC with her dominating wins over Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira, capturing the second spot as the No.1 contender at 135 pounds. Ultimately, none can challenge the reign of Valentina Shevchenko, who claimed the number one spot with her all-around qualities, dominance, grit, and a refusal to back down, returning to claim the flyweight title and affirming her status as the gold standard of female Mixed-Martial-Arts fighters.
