5 of the best women's fights in MMA history

WMMA continues to build on history of great fights and here are five of our favorites.

Women’s MMA has taken off over the last decade thanks to several pioneers who broke the mold. In researching the top five fights, even the top 10, it became clear that there were several to choose from.

Strikeforce, for example, helped establish the weight classes and superstars the UFC inherited after the buyout. One of the most polarizing fights in WMMA history was Gina Carano against Cris "Cyborg" Justino. Not only did it solidify Justino’s dominance at the time, but it was the first women’s fight for a major MMA promotion.

During that era, Marloes Coenen comes to mind. Not only did she fight Miesha Tate in the Strikeforce tournament final for the bantamweight title, but this fight actually led to the first encounter between Tate and Ronda Rousey. She also fought Justino for the inaugural Invicta FC featherweight title. Coenen, a fighter who deserves to be in this article in some way, helped cultivate competitive WMMA at the highest level.

So many WMMA fights, not enough spots

2013 proved to be a massive year for WMMA with Invicta FC taking off and Rousey headlining UFC 157 against Liz Carmouche. Invicta FC became the premier feeder-league for the UFC, especially with memorable fights like Jessica Penne vs. Michelle Waterson for the atomweight title. 

With so many great fights to choose from, the determining factors were storyline, shock and legacy. The ‘bottom’ five represent major moments in MMA history that helped WMMA break new barriers:

Holly Holm vs. Germaine De Randemie - UFC 208, Feb. 12, 2017: This was the first fight for the featherweight title in the UFC and it was surrounded by controversy. 

Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate - UFC 168, Dec. 28, 2013: Considered the first real rivalry in WMMA, this was the first time Tate and Rousey met in the UFC. We all know how that one ended.

Amanda Nunes vs. Cris Cyborg - UFC 232, Dec. 29, 2018: The culmination of the the two fighters considered the greatest in the sport finally locked horns. With Cyborg being closer to the end of her UFC career, this was a major win for Nunes’ legacy.

Cat Zingano vs. Miesha Tate - The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale, April 13, 2013: Carmouche versus Rousey was the first fight in the UFC, but many will argue that this was the fight that sold WMMA to the MMA community. It was very competitive and ended in dramatic fashion, winning the Fight of the Night award. 

Holly Holm vs. Ronda Rousey - UFC 193, November 14, 2015: This could make the top five if we didn’t consider all the fights in WMMA history, but the shock factor was real. In what everyone thought would be a dominating performance for Rousey, Holm used her striking to completely outclass Rousey. This was a true change of the tide in WMMA.

Now, on to the good stuff.