Fighting sports are not traditionally designed for women or considered a woman’s sport, but in recent years, women in MMA have proven that they can change the tradition. Sometimes even when squaring off with a man, they can hold their own pretty well.
Some of the women are holding the absolute best rankings in the MMA and now we are going to list some of them.
These women are some of the best-looking athletes in America and wider. The reason for that is their hard work, dedication, brutal training and toughness that gives them a perfectly toned physique and powerful body.
List of Best Women MMA Fighters
The list of the best female MMA fighters in the world is determined by your votes, the MMA fans. These votes are not biased or based on looks and attractiveness, they are based on skills and fighting ability.
So now let us see who some of the best women MMA fighters are:
- Holly Holm
- Ronda Rousey
- Miesha Tate
- Gina Carano
- Joanna Jedrzejczyk
- Rose Namajunas
- Cristiane Justino
- Tecia Torres
- Carla Esparza
- Julia Budd
- Jessica Penne
- Joanne Calderwood
- Marlones Coenen
- Julianna Pena
History of Women in MMA
Let us look at the history and struggles that women had to go through in order to create the UFC women’s division that is on the level of popularity that it is today.
In 2011 the UFC president Dana White said that women would never fight in the Octagon, which was not sexist at all but only came from the factual state of women’s MMA at the time.
However, when Ronda Rousey, an Olympic Judo Bronze medalist started competing, the attitude of the UFC chief changed.
Her hard work, determination, brute power as well as charisma outside of the ring changed women’s MMA for good. Dana White announced the women’s bantamweight division was going to be introduced in late 2012 and it began with Ronda Rousey defending her UFC’s women’s champion title against Liz Carmouche in the main event of UFC 157, which happened on 23 February 2013.
That match started a revolution in the UFC with the best bantamweights of the world competing under the UFC banner led by the Champion, Ronda Rousey.
Soon after that the 115-pound Straw-weight division was introduced with Carla Esparza coming out as the first UFC Straw-weight champion. Polish powerhouse, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, knocked her out later. With that victory, she claimed her position as the new Straw-weight champion.
The record event in women’s UFC was the UFC 193 event in Melbourne, Australia where there were two title defenses taking place, the Bantamweight by Rousey against Holly Holm and the Straw-weight by Jedrzejczyk against Valerie Letourneau. It was historic because it was held at the Etihad Stadium in front of 56,214 people.
MMA for Women – How To Start
Since the beginning of UFC women’s division and the popularity of women fighters there has been a great interest among many women for getting their hands dirty in the UFC arena.
Stuff that you can find online regarding training doesn’t involve all the necessary information for a woman to start training.
Also, the intimidation of seeing mostly men in these gyms in various states of hardcore preparation makes them turn aside and continue with their normal routines.
Women don’t have to be scared or intimidated if they want to get into the sport.
Let’s take a look at some information which women need to know in order to start making their sweat count for something important.
Benefits of MMA Training For Women
First of all, let’s look at some benefits of training for mixed martial arts. There are many benefits of this sport but here’s is just a beginner’s list.
- Strength
- Stamina
- Endurance
- Confidence
- Knowledge
- Fitness
- Sense of self-worth
Now that you have the motivation to get into this, let’s look at some practical ways you can begin.
Finding a Gym
The first thing you can do is to find a gym where you can train specifically for mixed martial arts. There are different syles in MMA:
- Judo
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Muay Thai
- Boxing
- Wrestling etc.
You can do a little research online and find some specific gyms and pick the one that is most convenient for you. If the times of classes are good for you and you like the place, you’ve just hit a jackpot.
There is probably a free lesson that you can get to test the place out and see if there is anything that you don’t like (smells, temperature, blood stains, sweaty mirrors etc.)
When it comes to your instructor the things that you should be looking for is good communication, friendliness, attitude, and rapport. If you feel good, you will be motivated and work hard, and your instructor plays a big part of that.
And if there are other women in there training like you, you know you can be there for the long run. At times when you feel like you’re no match to your male equivalent, you can stay reassured in a team of other women helping and encouraging each other.
After you’ve registered and decided what kind of payment plan you want, it’s time to buy some equipment like boxing gloves, shin guards, mouth guard and a wrap. If this is all too much for you, you can see whether you can borrow some stuff in the beginning.
Begin Training
After you got all that, it’s time to get your hands sweaty. But remember, don’t overdo it! It might be exciting in the beginning, but you can reach a point of burnout pretty easily if you don’t pace yourself!
Workouts can be high-intensity and exhausting so you should pick elements that you can do as a beginner like footwork and jabs and then go up from there to grappling and takedowns. Three times a week is just enough for you as a beginner. Once you get a hang of it, you’ll be stronger, you’ll start enjoying it more and get better at it.
Classes are structured and you don’t have to be afraid that you’ll get injured. This is not an MMA fight. It’s a class where you’re learning how to be the best version of yourself.
And remember, you don’t have to be a ripped, built, professional athlete to get into this sport. MMA is for EVERYBODY, a young shy teenager trying to build up her self confidence or a middle aged woman striving to be a stronger and better mom her kids can look up to.
You will feel more confident, you will be fitter, stronger, have better endurance and generally just be tough as a nail.
