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The UFC women’s strawweight division at 115 pounds is one of the most active and competitive women’s divisions in the sport. Weili “Magnum” Zhang currently holds the championship after a series of spectacular performances that have cemented her as one of the best female fighters in the world. Here is the complete UFC Women’s Strawweight Rankings breakdown for April 2026.

UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion

Weili Zhang (Champion)

Weili Zhang is a Chinese MMA pioneer who became the first Chinese UFC champion when she won the strawweight title in 2019 with a stunning 42-second KO of Jessica Andrade. Her fast hands, high-output striking, and improving grappling defense make her one of the most technically advanced women’s fighters in UFC history. After trading title reigns with Rose Namajunas, Zhang reclaimed the belt with a dominant performance and has since established herself as the division’s benchmark. She is a national hero in China and has helped grow the UFC’s footprint significantly in Asia.

Top 5 UFC Women’s Strawweight Contenders

#1 Yan Xiaonan

Yan Xiaonan is Zhang’s fellow Chinese countrywoman and her most credible challenger. A striker with heavy hands and relentless pressure, Xiaonan has worked her way up the rankings with a string of impressive performances. Her Chinese rivalry with Zhang carries genuine competitive weight — both fighters bring different styles that create interesting matchup dynamics. Xiaonan earned her number-one contender position through consistency and decisive finishes.

#2 Tatiana Suarez

Tatiana Suarez may be the most dangerous unfinished business in the women’s strawweight division. An elite wrestler who dominated all opposition before a series of injuries derailed her career, Suarez returned to the cage and immediately recaptured the form that had made her unbeatable. Her wrestling-based smothering game is genuinely elite — she has never been in a competitive fight in the UFC when healthy — and a title challenge remains the most anticipated bout the division has to offer.

#3 Marina Rodriguez

Brazilian veteran Marina Rodriguez is one of the most technically polished strikers in the women’s strawweight division. Her Muay Thai-based attack is clean, precise, and backed by excellent timing. She has wins over multiple top-five opponents and is a consistent threat to anyone in the division. Rodriguez brings the kind of experience and technical refinement that makes her competitive against anyone on her best night.

#4 Rose Namajunas

Rose “Thug” Namajunas is a two-time strawweight champion whose career arc has been one of the most compelling in women’s MMA history. Her technical boxing, calm demeanor under pressure, and ability to perform in the biggest moments have defined her legacy. While she has had recent struggles against top opposition, Namajunas remains a threat at 115 — she has the skills to beat anyone in the division on a given night and has done exactly that repeatedly throughout her career.

#5 Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie Dern is one of the most accomplished female grapplers in MMA history. A world BJJ champion, Dern has improved her striking significantly throughout her UFC career and has used her submission game to finish top competition. Her triangle choke and other submissions are legitimate equalizers against strikers, and her continued development as an all-around fighter keeps her firmly in title contention at 115 pounds.

Notable Ranked Fighters (6–15)

The strawweight rankings beyond the top five feature competitive fighters who regularly shuffle positions based on recent results. Carla Esparza — a former champion and elite wrestler — remains dangerous at any point in the rankings. Amanda Lemos from Brazil brings KO power that is rare for the weight class. Angela Hill has had one of the longest and most consistent UFC careers of any strawweight. Loopy Godinez and Luana Pinheiro represent the next generation of contenders pushing up through the rankings.

The State of Women’s Strawweight

The strawweight division has been one of the more stable women’s divisions in recent years in terms of champion quality. After the era of Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s dominant reign and then the Namajunas-Zhang exchanges, Weili Zhang has brought a period of cleaner dominance to the title picture. Her striking volume, power, and willingness to take risks make her a champion who consistently delivers entertainment value on top of championship credentials.

The division’s depth, particularly in the top ten, is strong. Several fighters currently ranked six through fifteen are capable of defeating top-five opponents on a given night. This competitive depth ensures that the strawweight division delivers quality matchups at every level of the card.

UFC Women’s Strawweight Rankings Summary (April 2026)

Champion: Weili Zhang | #1: Yan Xiaonan | #2: Tatiana Suarez | #3: Marina Rodriguez | #4: Rose Namajunas | #5: Mackenzie Dern

The UFC women’s strawweight division continues to grow in quality and depth. With Weili Zhang as champion and a collection of elite strikers and grapplers throughout the rankings, 115 pounds remains a must-watch division for women’s MMA fans worldwide.