Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Women’s Bantamweight

1. Ronda Rousey (9-0)

The world’s best pound-for-pound female fighter showed a new wrinkle to her game in defending her title at UFC 170. After eight straight armbar victories, Rousey scored her first knockout by dropping fellow Olympian Sarah McMann with a nasty knee to the liver just 66 seconds into the bout. As the judoka-turned-fighter-turned-movie-star continues to juggle her many new obligations, Rousey said post-fight that she should be back in late summer.

2. Alexis Davis (16-5)

Davis extended her winning streak to five straight with a gritty -- if somewhat controversial -- split decision over Jessica Eye in the featured prelim of UFC 170. While the “Ally-gator” is gunning for a title shot at Ronda Rousey, she may have to wait behind sidelined top contender Cat Zingano.

3. Cat Zingano (8-0)

Despite her status as the UFC’s official No. 1 contender, Zingano has been kept away from the cage for nearly a year due to serious injury and personal tragedy. Zingano is still waiting to return to training following knee surgery but has asserted that she could be ready for a summer showdown with Ronda Rousey.

4. Sara McMann (7-1)

McMann was touted as Ronda Rousey’s toughest test to date, but that notion evaporated quickly when a knee to the liver folded the Olympic silver medalist in just 66 seconds at UFC 170. Still, with her wrestling pedigree, McMann is serious threat to any woman at 135 pounds.

5. Miesha Tate (13-5)

Tate racked up an impressive 6-2 record with Strikeforce but has yet to taste victory since transferring to the Octagon. Following back-to-back losses against Ronda Rousey and Cat Zingano, “Cupcake” could be fighting for her roster spot when she meets Liz Carmouche at UFC on Fox 11 in April.

6. Jessica Eye (10-2, 1 NC)

February was a bad month for “Evil” Eye. First, the 27-year-old Ohioan had the biggest win of her career erased when the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation revealed that Eye tested positive for marijuana metabolites following her October bout with Sarah Kaufman. Eye was still allowed to face Alexis Davis at UFC 170 but wound up on the wrong end of a questionable split decision.

7. Sarah Kaufman (16-2, 1 NC)

With her October loss to Jessica Eye wiped away, Kaufman has a fresh start to her UFC career. Her road will not get any easier, with the hard-nosed Canadian set for an April 16 rematch against Shayna Baszler, whom Kaufman bested under the Strikeforce banner in 2009.

8. Lauren Murphy (8-0)

Murphy has defeated all comers in the Invicta Fighting Championships bantamweight division, outlasting Miriam Nakamoto in December to become the promotion’s inaugural 135-pound titleholder. While nothing is set in stone, it looks like Murphy could be in line for a fight with Cristiane Justino, as “Cyborg” recently announced her intention to change divisions.

9. Liz Carmouche (9-4)

Since being submitted by Ronda Rousey in her UFC debut, “Girl-rilla” has had mixed results, stopping Jessica Andrade before dropping a lopsided decision to Alexis Davis. Next up for Carmouche is a high-stakes bout with Miesha Tate at the UFC’s April 19 stop in Orlando, Fla.

10. Jessica Andrade (11-3)

In securing her second straight Octagon win at UFC 171, Andrade showed exactly why she is one of the women’s bantamweight division’s most exciting young prospects. The 22-year-old Brazilian used nonstop aggression and heavy punches to overwhelm Raquel Pennington for the better part of two rounds, earning Andrade a split decision.

Other Contenders: Sarah D’Alelio, Tonya Evinger, Holly Holm, Rin Nakai, Amanda Nunes.