Women's MMA has come a long way, and 2025 is proving to be its best year yet. With clear weight divisions now in place, fighters of all styles and sizes are getting their chance to shine. Basically, there’s something exciting happening in every weight class, and what's really cool is how each division has developed its own personality.
Individual featherweights are known for their raw strength, while straw weights are lightning-fast. So, you watch these fights, and all you see on your screen is premium entertainment. The best part? Women's fights are no longer just prelims; they're regularly headlining major events and often stealing the show.
The sport has grown so much that even casual fans can name multiple champions and contenders. From established stars to hungry newcomers, every division is packed with talents. It's not just about one or two famous fighters anymore; women's MMA is becoming a must-watch entertainment, with full rosters across all weight classes.
This article will explore the different female divisions in MMA and give some examples of fighters in the categories.
The Weight Divisions in Women’s MMA
The structure of weight classes is built in a way that ensures fair competition between fighters. So, without any adaptation, fighters can compete with their natural strength.
Here’s how the MMA women’s divisions are broken down in 2025:
- Featherweight (145 lbs)
- Bantamweight (135 lbs)
- Flyweight (125 lbs)
- Strawweight (115 lbs)
Featherweight
This is the heaviest division in women’s MMA, featuring fighters with strength and endurance. What makes featherweight an exciting division? It’s that perfect balance.
Fighters have enough size to deliver fight-ending punches but are also quick enough to dodge and duck over multiple rounds. This is why this division is a no-go zone for many but creates some of MMA’s most explosive action.
We’ve seen this play out time and again in the men’s division. Their fights often begin with technical blows, each fighter taking cautious steps. Then, towards the final round, that’s where the damage happens—with sudden knockout endings.
The women's division follows the same blueprint. Amanda Nunes’ recent title victory proved once again that featherweight favours those with heavy hands. However, as MMA evolves, this weight class will gradually leave the female category to solely become a division in the male category.
Bantamweight
The UFC’s 135-pound women’s division has produced some of MMA’s most iconic champions. This weight class became legendary through Ronda Rousey’s unprecedented dominance (2012-2015), where she finished 6 title defences — first with armbars, then devastating striking blitzes. Her shocking knockout loss to Holly Holm (2015) began an era of dramatic title changes.
Miesha Tate briefly held the belt before Amanda Nunes began her historic reign (2016-2021), defending five times until Julianna Peña’s upset victory. After Nunes reclaimed the title (2022) and retired, Raquel Pennington won the vacant belt in 2024 before dropping it back to Peña in a close UFC 307 rematch.
Current top contenders in the division include:
- Ketlen Vieira
- Irene Aldana
- Mayra Bueno Silva
The division remains one of MMA’s most competitive, combining wrestling, boxing and jiu-jitsu at its ideal 135-pound matchup. This weight is heavy enough for knockouts but light enough for technical battles.
Flyweight
The UFC’s flyweight division is all about speed and skill. Since starting in 2017, these 125-pound fighters have shown us some of the most technical battles in MMA.
Valentina Shevchenko was the queen of this division for years with her perfect striking and grappling. But in 2023, Mexico’s Alexa Grasso shocked everyone by submitting her! They’ve since fought to a draw, and Shevchenko won their third match, proving this rivalry is a must-watch in MMA.
Right now, the top contenders in the division are:
- Manon Fiorot (France) — one of the undefeated kickboxers in the world.
- Erin Blanchfield (USA) — a wrestling machine.
- Maycee Barber (USA) — a young powerhouse.
What makes flyweight so fun to watch? These women are lightning-fast, incredibly conditioned, and master technicians. You won’t see as many knockouts as heavier divisions, but you will see amazing back-and-forth action. Every fight is like a chess match with punches. With Shevchenko defending her title soon and new stars rising, flyweight remains one of UFC’s most exciting weight classes.
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Strawweight
The smallest division in women’s UFC in terms of weight has delivered some of MMA’s most dramatic moments since its 2014 debut. It all started when Carla Esparza won the inaugural title by submitting Rose Namajunas in The Ultimate Fighter finale. But her reign was brief. Polish striker Joanna Jędrzejczyk took the belt just three months later and dominated for two years with her vicious Muay Thai style.
The division really came alive when underdog Namajunas shocked Jędrzejczyk with a first-round knockout in 2017. After Rose's injury hiatus, Brazil's Jessica Andrade claimed gold with a slam KO in Rio. Today, China's Zhang Weili reigns as perhaps the most complete strawweight ever. Zhang possesses very powerful submissions and recently handed Olympic wrestler Tatiana Suarez her first loss.
Current top contenders like Tatiana Suarez and Yan Xiaonan prove this 115-pound division remains the UFC’s most consistently exciting. While fighters may lack one-punch KO power, they more than make up for it with skill and non-stop action that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
Why Divisions Are Important in MMA
Weight divisions are the backbone of fair competition in MMA. Imagine a 115-pound strawweight fighter going against a 145-pound featherweight. It wouldn’t just be unfair; it could be dangerous. By grouping fighters by size, we get matchups where skill determines the winner, not sheer physical advantage.
These divisions also create exciting championship stories. When a fighter dominates their weight class like Valentina Shevchenko did at flyweight, or when an underdog climbs the rankings like Zhang Weili at strawweight, it gives fans clear narratives to follow. Each division develops its own personality. So, you move from the technical chess matches at strawweight to the explosive power of bantamweight.
For fighters, weight classes provide a roadmap to success. They can focus on becoming the best in their natural weight range rather than constantly worrying about size disadvantages. And for you, fans? It means you get to see the best possible version of every fight. How it gets competitive, exciting, and decided by skill rather than pounds.
Conclusion
Women’s MMA in 2025 is thriving thanks to well-defined divisions that separate different fighting styles and personalities. From the powerhouse featherweights to the technical strawweight, each division offers unique excitement.
Whether you’re watching for the athleticism, the rivalries, or the betting opportunities, understanding these categories enhances the experience. As the sport continues to grow, we can expect even more talent to emerge across all weight classes. This will gradually push women’s MMA to the screens of more fans all over the world.
