The 5 Best UFC Fighters to Replace Amanda Nunes as the Face of Women's MMA
Amanda Nunes is now retired, and unlike many of the retirements we see in MMA—we're looking at you, Henry Cejudo—this one looks like it will stick.
Nunes, who is considered the greatest female fighter of all time, made her last walk to the Octagon at UFC 289 on Saturday in Vancouver, British Columbia, to take on Mexico's Irene Aldana.
The Brazilian was defending her bantamweight belt (she also holds the title at featherweight), and while she was unable to score one of her trademark finishes, she was dominant from bell to bell and made her announcement after a unanimous-decision win.
The 35-year-old had been teasing retirement for some time, so it wasn't surprising to see her laying her gloves down in the center of the Octagon in Vancouver. Still, her departure will leave a huge void in women's MMA, as she sat atop just about every pound-for-pound ranking and held titles in two weight classes. The featherweight division might even close up shop without her.
However, Nunes' exit will give another fighter the opportunity to take up her role as the face of women's MMA. Those are some big shoes to fill, but here are five women we think are up to the task.
Rose Namajunas
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Rose Namajunas doesn't have a belt right now, but she is easily one of the most popular women competing in MMA—maybe the most popular. And it's pretty easy to understand why.
The 30-year-old has twice reigned over the UFC strawweight division—arguably, the promotion's most competitive women's weight class.
Perhaps more importantly, Namajunas has proved herself as one of the division's best finishers, with flashy striking technique, impressive knockout power in all four limbs and a dangerous offensive jiu-jitsu game.
Unfortunately, the American hasn't fought since she lost a split decision—and the strawweight belt—to Carla Esparza in May 2022. It also happened to be one of the year's most forgettable fights, as the pair did almost nothing for 25 minutes.
If Namajunas doesn't fight again soon, she risks losing some of her cache with fans, but all it will take is another impressive performance to win back their support.
Zhang Weili
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UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili is an obvious front-runner to replace Nunes as the face of women's MMA.
Not only is she an active champion and one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, but she also has a huge following in China, a major and lucrative market that the UFC has spent years trying to work its way into.
Like Namajunas, the 33-year-old is also known for her entertaining fighting style, with dangerous striking and a high-level submission game. She also has a fun personality and has been working hard to learn English, which has helped her endear herself with fans.
Zhang will have an opportunity to assert herself as Nunes' successor at UFC 292 on August 19, when she defends her belt against Brazilian knockout artist Amanda Lemos.
Alexa Grasso
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UFC women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso also has an entire country behind her.
The Mexican became a breakout star in her home country when she scored a shocking submission win over pound-for-pound star Valentina Shevchenko earlier this year.
That title-winning feat was just about on par with beating Nunes, as Shevchenko had been sitting in the No. 1 or 2 spot on most pound-for-pound lists for years.
While Grasso has been on hardcore fans' radar since her days in Invicta, she is a newer face to some UFC fans, so she might have some work to do if she wants to take up the mantle from the outgoing Nunes.
However, if the 29-year-old is able to beat Shevchenko in their widely anticipated rematch, which hasn't yet been made official, she will take a big step in that direction.
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Valentina Shevchenko
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Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko have long been considered the No. 1 and No. 2 fighters in women's MMA and have occasionally switched positions in the eyes of some fans and pundits.
It's reminiscent of the way Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre dominated pound-for-pound rankings in their prime, except that unlike those two MMA legends, Nunes and Shevchenko actually fought each other, twice.
Nunes won both encounters via hotly contested decisions. While that gives her a decisive lead in their rivalry—one that would seem to be over for good—Shevchenko remains an obvious candidate to take up her old foe's role as the face of women's MMA.
Despite her shocking loss to Grasso earlier this year, the 35-year-old is clearly still one of the best female fighters alive. And if she wins their expected rematch—and the oddsmakers will certainly lean that way—she will just about guarantee herself the top pound-for-pound spot.
That's a good place to start.
Julianna Peña
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Julianna Peña shocked the world in her 2021 bantamweight title fight with Nunes.
She was just 2-2 in her last four fights at the time and considered one of the least-credible challengers of the champion's reign, but she battered the Brazilian on the feet and submitted her in Round 2.
It was one of the biggest upsets in women's MMA history.
Nunes won a clear-cut unanimous decision in their 2022 rematch, reclaiming the title and adding credence to the theory that Peña simply caught her on a bad night the first time around.
The pair were briefly set to answer all questions at UFC 289, but Peña suffered an injury, clearing the way for Aldana to step in against the champ. When Nunes retired after beating the Mexican in Vancouver, it closed the door on closure for Peña.
That has to sting, but Peña will most likely get the call to fight for the vacant bantamweight title. And if she wins it, she will be one of faces of the women's side of the sport.
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