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The UFC Women’s Bantamweight division is the oldest and most historically significant women’s weight class in the organization — it is the division that Ronda Rousey built, that Holly Holm shocked the world in, and that Amanda Nunes dominated for years. In 2025, a new chapter is being written at 135 pounds, with a champion who upset the established order and a contender field that has never been deeper.

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion: Julianna Peña

Julianna “The Venezuelan Vixen” Peña is the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion following one of the most shocking upsets in the division’s history. Peña defeated Amanda Nunes — the longest-reigning and arguably greatest women’s champion in UFC history — by second-round rear naked choke at UFC 269 in December 2021, ending Nunes’s dynasty and writing herself into MMA history.

Peña’s game is built on toughness, grappling, and the willingness to go to dark places in fights that other fighters would choose to avoid. She won The Ultimate Fighter Season 18 and spent years building her skills before her championship moment arrived. After losing the belt to Nunes in the rematch, Peña has continued competing at the top of the division.

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Top Contenders

#1: Raquel Pennington

Raquel Pennington is one of the most experienced and durable fighters in the women’s bantamweight division. She has competed at the highest level for years, reaching the title shot against Amanda Nunes at UFC 224 where she showed incredible heart in losing a fight she probably should have stopped herself. Pennington’s wrestling, volume striking, and cage IQ make her a perennial top-five threat in the division and a credible title challenger at any point.

#2: Ketlen Vieira

Ketlen Vieira is a Brazilian submission artist and striker who has defeated some of the division’s top fighters. Her jiu-jitsu base is excellent, and she has shown the ability to compete effectively against elite competition. Vieira’s victories over Holly Holm and ranked opponents establish her as a genuine title contender and one of the division’s most technically complete fighters.

#3: Holly Holm

Holly Holm’s place in UFC history is immortal. The former world champion boxer from Albuquerque produced the most shocking upset in women’s MMA history when she knocked out Ronda Rousey with a left high kick at UFC 193. Holm’s boxing fundamentals, footwork, and defensive skill remain elite even as her career has extended over a decade. She is a career top-five presence at 135 pounds whose name still carries enormous weight in the division.

#4: Miesha Tate

Miesha Tate is one of the division’s all-time legends. The former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion won the title by submitting Holly Holm and has competed at the highest level for nearly two decades. Tate’s grappling — particularly her back-take sequences and choke setups — remains dangerous against anyone in the division. Her comeback to competition after retirement brought renewed competitive fire and several strong performances.

#5: Irene Aldana

Irene Aldana is a Mexican striker with legitimate power and the ability to end fights on her feet. She has defeated multiple ranked opponents and earned title shot consideration through consistent, finishing performances. Her striking has improved significantly over her UFC career and she represents one of the division’s most dangerous stand-up threats.

Amanda Nunes’ Legacy

Any discussion of the women’s bantamweight division must acknowledge the shadow of Amanda Nunes. The Brazilian legend held the division’s title for nearly six consecutive years across two reigns, defeating every significant challenger including Ronda Rousey (48 seconds), Miesha Tate, Holly Holm, Valentina Shevchenko, Raquel Pennington, and Julianna Peña (in the rematch). Nunes’ dominance was so complete that finding opponents who hadn’t already been defeated by her was itself a challenge.

Nunes officially retired in 2023 after the second Peña fight, leaving the division in the hands of a new generation. Her career record — 22-5 with 13 finishes — and her double-champion status (she also held the flyweight title) make her the greatest women’s MMA fighter in history by most measures.

The Division’s Future

Without Nunes, the women’s bantamweight division enters a genuinely open era. Peña, Pennington, Vieira, Aldana, and emerging prospects all have credible claims on the championship. The weight class that Ronda Rousey built and Amanda Nunes made synonymous with dominance is now a competitive landscape where the next long-reigning champion has yet to emerge.

For MMA fans, that’s exactly the right kind of problem to have.