UFC / MMA

UFC women's divisions need a complete overhaul: Here is what Dana White should do

The women's divisions are in trouble and the numbers do not lie.

Strawweight (115 lbs): The strongest division. Zhang Weili is a legitimate star. Challengers like Tatiana Suarez and Amanda Lemos keep it interesting. This division is fine.

Flyweight (125 lbs): Valentina Shevchenko dominated for years but the division never developed depth behind her. Current state has 3-4 legitimate contenders and a lot of filler. Needs investment.

Bantamweight (135 lbs): Critical condition. After Amanda Nunes retired, the division lost its anchor. The talent pool is thin. Most cards feature 135-pounders who would be better served at 125 or 145.

Featherweight (145 lbs): Does this division even exist anymore? The UFC has never invested in building it. It was created for Cyborg, limped along, and has functionally zero contenders.

Proposed fixes:

  1. Merge 145 and 135. The talent pool cannot support both.
  2. Add a 105-pound atomweight division. ONE Championship has shown this works. The talent exists globally.
  3. Invest in international scouting. Brazil, Central Asia, and East Asia have untapped female MMA talent.

Sources:

  • UFC.com — division rankings
  • Sherdog — active fighter counts per division
  • ONE Championship — atomweight division as a model

Agree or disagree?

Community ReportAutomatedSource: Community ReportPublished: Apr 2, 2026, 11:19 AM

3 Comments

Strawweight is legitimately one of the best divisions in the entire UFC right now regardless of gender. Zhang Weili is a complete martial artist.

Atomweight needs to happen. The talent at 105 globally is there. Stamp Fairtex in ONE Championship is a star. The UFC is leaving money on the table.

The 145 division is a ghost town. Just end it. Nobody is asking for it. Put those resources into 125 development.