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The UFC women’s bantamweight division at 135 pounds is one of the sport’s most historically significant weight classes, having produced the UFC’s first female champion (Ronda Rousey) and some of the organization’s most compelling women’s rivalries. The current division features a champion who has weathered a competitive career to reach the top, and a collection of elite contenders making their cases for gold. Here is the full UFC Women’s Bantamweight Rankings breakdown for April 2026.

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion

Raquel Pennington (Champion)

Raquel “Rocky” Pennington became UFC women’s bantamweight champion in 2023 with a unanimous decision over Mayra Bueno Silva — a culmination of a career in which she has been one of the division’s most consistent competitors. Pennington is a well-rounded fighter with solid wrestling, a relentless cardio engine, and the kind of veteran ring savvy that comes from competing against the division’s best for over a decade. A former title challenger (she lost to Amanda Nunes in 2018), Pennington’s championship is a story of persistence and continued improvement throughout her career.

Top 5 UFC Women’s Bantamweight Contenders

#1 Julianna Peña

Julianna “The Venezuelan Vixen” Peña is a former UFC women’s bantamweight champion whose submission of Amanda Nunes in December 2021 was one of the biggest upsets in women’s MMA history. Nunes had been considered essentially unbeatable, and Peña stopped her in the second round with a rear-naked choke that nobody predicted. Peña’s championship reign ended in a rematch, but her credentials and her willingness to compete against anyone keep her firmly in the title conversation.

#2 Mayra Bueno Silva

Brazilian grappler Mayra Bueno Silva has emerged as one of the most dangerous submission threats in the bantamweight division. Her BJJ is world-class, her ground-and-pound is heavy, and her path through the rankings has been marked by impressive finishes. She challenged for the title against Pennington and came close; a rematch or another title shot is likely with continued strong performances.

#3 Holly Holm

Holly Holm is a legend of the women’s bantamweight division — the woman who shocked the world by knocking out Ronda Rousey with a head kick at UFC 193, earning one of the most unexpected results in combat sports history. A former multiple-division kickboxing and boxing world champion, Holm’s striking is elite and her takedown defense keeps her competitive against any grappling-based opponent. While in the later stages of her career, Holm remains a threat to any bantamweight on a given night.

#4 Aspen Ladd

Aspen Ladd is a former top contender with an impressive finishing ability and strong wrestling credentials. She has had moments of spectacular performances and has faced the division’s best competition. Her power in the bantamweight division is notable, and when healthy and prepared, she presents significant challenges for any ranked opponent.

#5 Karol Rosa

Brazilian fighter Karol Rosa has put together a consistent run of performances in the bantamweight division that keeps her firmly in the rankings. A complete fighter with both grappling and striking ability, Rosa’s consistency and willingness to fight regularly make her a reliable ranked contender who can challenge any fighter in the division.

The Division’s History and Context

Women’s bantamweight was the first women’s division the UFC created, built around the extraordinary talent of Ronda Rousey, whose armbar finishes in under a minute during the early days of women’s MMA drew massive audiences and fundamentally changed the sport’s demographics. The division subsequently became home to Amanda Nunes — widely considered the greatest women’s MMA fighter of all time — whose dominant reign across bantamweight and featherweight lasted years and featured victories over essentially every top contender.

The post-Nunes era has seen the title change hands more frequently, reflecting a division that has grown in depth. Multiple fighters currently ranked two through eight are capable of defeating the champion on a given night, which creates the kind of competitive environment that makes the division compelling to follow.

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Rankings Summary (April 2026)

Champion: Raquel Pennington | #1: Julianna Peña | #2: Mayra Bueno Silva | #3: Holly Holm | #4: Aspen Ladd | #5: Karol Rosa

The UFC women’s bantamweight division remains a historically significant and competitively compelling weight class. From Ronda Rousey to Amanda Nunes to the current era, 135 pounds has produced some of the most important moments in women’s MMA history — and continues to develop the sport’s next generation of elite female fighters.