MMA
The Top 10 UFC Women’s Bantamweight Contenders in 2024
Using the Critical Consensus Table and SportsBoom MetaScale, we have ranked and analysed the top 10 UFC women's bantamweight contenders in 2024.
Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
The UFC women's bantamweight division has been the host of several elite names in all of female mixed martial arts. Fighters such as Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes helped fetch new eyes to the women's divisions.
In this article, we have ranked and analysed the top 10 UFC women's bantamweight contenders as of 2024. Here is our list, using our methodology of the SportsBoom MetaScale.
Methodology
The rankings are based on the following measurable criteria:
Fight Record (40%): Overall win-loss record, including streaks.
Title Achievements (30%): Championships won and title defences.
Recent Performances (20%): Outcome and significance of recent fights.
Competitive Strength (10%): Quality of opponents and fight results.
Sources Used:
Critical Consensus: Ranking the Top Fighters
The Critical Consensus Table combines data from Sportskeeda and ESPN as well as listing title achievements and win streak.
Critical Consensus Table
| Rank | Fighter | Record | Win Streak | Title Achievements | Sporting News Rank | ESPN Rank |
| 1 | Julianna Peña
| 16–9 | 1 | Current Champion (UFC 307) | C | 1 |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 12–5 | 1 | Former Champion (UFC 297) | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Kayla Harrison | 18–1 | 3 | PFL Champion, rising star | 3 | N/A |
| 4 | Ketlen Vieira | 14–4 | 0 | Top contender | 4 | N/A |
| 5 | Macy Chiasson | 10–3 | 2 | Promising future contender | T-4 | N/A |
| 6 | Norma Dumont | 12–2 | 5 | High momentum contender | T-4 | N/A |
| 7 | Holly Holm | 15–7 | 0 | Former Champion (UFC 193) | 8 | 6 |
| 8 | Karol Rosa | 18–6 | 1 | Rising contender | 9 | N/A |
| 9 | Yana Santos | 15–8 | 1 | Consistent performer | 10 | N/A |
| 10 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 10–4–1 | 0 | Tough competitor | 6 (T) | N/A |
Julianna Peña currently reigns supreme in the UFC women's bantamweight division after defeating former champ Raquel Pennington at UFC 307.
Pennington may have to wait in line for a shot at revenge however; Kayla Harrison has been a wrecking ball to the division. Since joining the roster in early 2024, she has racked up two wins out of two, including a dominant submission win over former champ and UFC veteran Holly Holm.
Fighters like Macy Chiasson and Ketlen Vieira are solid bantamweight fighters, but they are still perhaps one win away from getting a shot at the title.
SportsBoom MetaScale: Evaluating the Top Contenders
The SportsBoom MetaScale has taken into consideration: Fight Record (40%), Title Achievements (30%), Recent Performances (20%), Competitive Strength (10%). These are the results below…
SportsBoom MetaScale Table
| Rank | Fighter | Record (40%) | Title Achievements (30%) | Recent Performance (20%) | Competitive Strength (10%) | MetaScale Score |
| 1 | Julianna Peña | 32 | 27 | 16 | 8 | 83 |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 28 | 20 | 18 | 8 | 74 |
| 3 | Kayla Harrison | 36 | 10 | 16 | 7 | 69 |
| 4 | Norma Dumont | 34 | 8 | 18 | 6 | 66 |
| 5 | Macy Chiasson | 30 | 8 | 18 | 7 | 63 |
| 6 | Ketlen Vieira | 28 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 59 |
| 7 | Holly Holm | 26 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 59 |
| 8 | Karol Rosa | 28 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 54 |
| 9 | Yana Santos | 28 | 6 | 14 | 5 | 53 |
| 10 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 26 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 49 |
1. Julianna Peña
Julianna Pena reacts after her victory against Raquel Pennington//Getty Images
Julianna Peña is the current women's UFC bantamweight champion after she defeated Raquel Pennington at UFC 307. Peña is now a two-time champion and she'll be hoping that her second spell as the champ will be longer than her first. She'll have to continue her relentless style of striking and grappling to maintain champ status in 2025.
2. Raquel Pennington
Raquel Pennington battles Julianna Pena//Getty Images
Raquel Pennington recently lost her belt to Peña at UFC 307 and she'll have plenty of motivation to get it back in 2025. But she may have to wait her turn for a shot at the title. Despite having strong wrestling, Pennington has stiff competition in that department now as Kayla Harrison has stormed through the division in 2024 with her Olympic wrestling credentials and her brutal ground-and-pound.
3. Kayla Harrison
Kayla Harrison kicks Ketlen Vieira//Getty Images
Kayla Harrison is a real problem for those in the women's bantamweight division. After making her UFC debut in 2024, she finished the year going two wins out of two in dominant fashion. Now, she is firmly in title contention thanks to her powerful wrestling ability and vicious ground game, particularly from top mount.
4. Norma Dumont
Norma Dumont and Irene Aldana//Getty Images
Norma Dumont is on a five-fight win streak and she looked impressive in her recent bout against Irene Aldana. Despite not yet registering a knockout win in her career, her striking is slick and technical, and there's certainly more to come.
5. Macy Chiasson
After spending two years out of the cage, Macy Chiasson re-entered the octagon in 2024 and racked up two stoppage victories. Chiasson is one of the most versatile fighters in the division because of her ability to strike and mix in her wrestling.
6. Ketlen Vieira
Ketlen Vieira recently lost to Kayla Harrison, but that's no embarrassment whatsoever given the highly skilled wrestling ability that Harrison has. The Brazilian needs to have a big 2025 to get back into title contention.
7. Holly Holm
Holly Holm and Kayla Harrison//Getty Images
The veteran of the division, Holly Holm has been there, seen it and done it in the UFC. But at 43 years of age, and coming off of a brutal submission loss to Kayla Harrison, you have to wonder whether or not she has any motivation left in her to mount another title challenge.
8. Karol Rosa
Karol Rosa is a well-rounded fighter and at the age of 29 she has plenty of time to further improve different aspects of MMA. Rosa is a rising contender that could be one to watch very closely over the next couple of years.
9. Yana Santos
Yana Santos is likely on the verge of being cut from the UFC. She has just one win in her last four, and she hasn't made any progress in the bantamweight division for a long time because she has been scheduled for three catch-weight bouts and a featherweight bout in the last two or three years. However, her recent win over Chelsea Chandler may buy her time.
10. Mayra Bueno Silva
Mayra Bueno Silva has 0 wins in her last three, and one of those losses came in the bout for the vacant UFC women's bantamweight title against Raquel Pennington at UFC 297. The Brazilian is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the division and with a couple of statement wins in 2025 she could find herself back in the title fold.
SportsBoom Suggests
Julianna Peña leads the division with her title win at UFC 307 thanks to her relentless pressure and high tempo fighting style.
Former champion Raquel Pennington remains a strong contender with her wrestling background and her solid striking.
Rising stars like Kayla Harrison and Norma Dumont bring depth to the division with high win streaks.
The UFC Women’s Bantamweight Division continues to thrive with new and established talents. Julianna Peña currently reigns as champion, while challengers like Raquel Pennington and Kayla Harrison push the competitive boundaries.
Jake Staniland is a sports writer who excels in covering a wide range of sports: football, combat sports and the NFL - All three subjects are his lifelong passions.
Jake is a boyhood Sheffield United fan, which is often a curse that he thanks his family for. His favourite Blades player ever is Billy Sharp