Aug 21

Aug 21 Female Fighters of the Future: Top 10 Female MMA Prospects 2023

The Sporting Blog

Opinion

The Future of MMA: The Top 10 MMA Female Fighting Prospects For 2023

There are some truly terrifying young fighters out there - but who are the top female MMA prospects with the most potential?

Read on for all the latest stats, facts and big fights.

These are our top 10 female MMA prospects for 2023 - you heard it here first!

young MMA fighter Tereza Bleda poses for the camera — Tereza Bleda, a top WMMA prospect for 2023. Picture credits: Reinders MMA

It wasn’t long ago that women’s MMA became mainstream, and yet it has managed to create and retain a lot of interest among fighting fans.

This is due to the ever-changing landscape of the WMMA fight scene - and a variety of up-and-comers enter it every year.

We’ve already put together a list of the top 10 male MMA prospects for 2023 - but what about the female fighters coming onto the scene?

The following is a list of the top 10 female MMA prospects for 2023. All of these women could be future title challengers!

1. Erin Blanchfield (11-1)

Ranked #3 in flyweight rankings
Five-fight win streak in the UFC
She’s fought against Jessica Andrade, Molly McCann and more

Some call Erin Blanchfield a prospect while others call her a title contender.

Either way, it seems she’s destined for stardom as she’s climbed up the flyweight rankings pretty quickly (#3), even making it to the pound-for-pound rankings (#7).

Blanchfield has an extensive background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which has turned her into a grappling and submission specialist.

She is currently on a five-fight win streak in the UFC, with her most recent victims being veterans Jessica Andrade and Molly McCann.

2. Yazmin Jauregui (10-1)

She has won 70% of her fights by knocking out her opponents
Half of her victories have come in the first round!
The first-ever female fighter to win a UFC match via flying knee

Mexico’s Yazmin Jauregui may have recently suffered a hiccup as she got TKO’d in the fastest-ever finish in UFC strawweight history.

However, she’s still a solid prospect! She’s just 24 years old and is a solid striker.

Jauregui has won 70% of her fights by knocking out her opponents; half of her victories have come in the very first round.

She made history when she debuted for the UFC, becoming the first-ever female fighter to win a UFC match via flying knee.

3. Maycee Barber (13-2)

She was once set to become the youngest champion in UFC history
Her career was temporarily halted due to a knee injury
She’s defeated many veterans and has an impressive win streak

Maycee Barber is a polarising fighter who was once set to become the youngest champion in UFC history, after debuting for the company at a very young age.

However, a knee injury sidelined the well-rounded fighter for a whole year, which slowed her progress.

Barber would return after the injury and, after a loss to now-flyweight champ Alexa Grasso, she’d waste no time in racking up an impressive win streak.

She’s defeated a handful of veterans and it won’t be long until we see her in the title picture.

4. Tabatha Ricci (9-1)

She first started MMA at age 18
Debuted in the UFC in 2021
She’s a ranked fighter in the flyweight division

Tabatha Ricci is a fierce competitor who has a background in BJJ and Muay Thai so she’s very well-rounded.

Hailing from Brazil, Ricci started MMA at the age of 18 and has been competing in the sport for a decade now.

She debuted in the UFC two years ago, marking her only loss to a very tough opponent in Manon Fiorot.

Ever since her debut, Ricci has picked up a streak of wins over flyweight division veterans. She’s now a ranked fighter in the division.

5. Jaqueline Amorim (6-1)

Former IBJJF and LFA champion
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist
Strawweight division contender

Jaqueline Amorim is a former IBJJF and LFA champion, and a BJJ specialist. She made her debut for the UFC in 2023.

However, the match was an upset and she lost a decision to Sam Hughes. However, with Amorim’s accomplishments in BJJ, expectations are high for her to succeed in the UFC.

If she works on her cardio, we could see her being a real contender in the strawweight division in the future.

6. Melissa Martinez (7-1)

Accomplished kickboxer and strawweight division MMA fighter
She took a long break from MMA (3 years)
She lost a decision to Elise Reed in her first UFC match

Melissa Martinez is an accomplished kickboxer, and she has done well during her amateur and pro careers.

She’s also practised MMA on the side, taking a break for nearly three years from the sport but returning to it in style when she debuted for the UFC.

Like some of the other warriors on this list, her first match in the company didn’t go quite as planned as she lost a decision to Elise Reed.

Needless to say, her talents can help her excel in the company’s strawweight division in 2023.

7. Cory McKenna (8-2)

A Welsh fighter in the strawweight division
She debuted in the UFC in 2020
She has won three of her four UFC fights

Cory McKenna is a Welsh fighter who competes in the UFC’s strawweight division. She’s an all-rounder as she has trained in numerous martial arts throughout her life.

McKenna has had an impressive showing in the UFC ever since her debut in 2020. She has won three of her four fights in the company, with her only loss being a close one to Elise Reed via a split decision.

McKenna bounced back after this setback - and she should break into the strawweight rankings in no time.

8. Iasmin Lucindo (14-5)

A 21-year-old Brazilian prodigy
She lost a decision in her UFC debut
She has competed in 19 fights

Iasmin Lucindo is a 21-year-old Brazilian prodigy that boasts some serious power and has an amazing standup game.

Sure, her UFC debut didn’t go as planned as she lost a decision, but she had an impressive showing and would bounce back in her next matchup.

Lucindo has competed in an impressive 19 fights despite her young age, and these have helped her understand MMA better than most of her peers.

She’ll face her toughest test yet against Polyana Viana in her next bout.

9. Tereza Bleda (7-1)

She made her UFC debut at 20 years old
She lost her UFC debut match but went on to win the next one
Almost half of her wins in the MMA have come in the first round

Czech sensation Tereza Bleda made her UFC debut at just 20 years of age, making her the youngest woman on the roster at the time.

She’d lose her debut match but win the next one, showing that she can hold her own in the UFC.

Bleda has shown that she’s a well-rounded striker and has won two fights by knockout and submission each.

She’s also a quick fighter, as almost half of her wins in the MMA have come in the very first round. Bleda has a lot of time to shine and is expected to hone her craft at the top level.

10. Tatiana Suarez (10-0)

She has beaten the current flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso
She chocked out Montana De La Rosa and won Performance of the Night
Her next fight is against strawweight champion Jessica Andrade

If it weren’t for Tatiana Suarez’s hiatus of more than three years from MMA, it is likely that she would have won a UFC championship or would at least be competing for one.

Suarez is an accomplished wrestler who has beaten the current flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso.

She’s also defeated former strawweight champion Carla Esparza, and several other big names in women’s MMA.

Suarez returned to the cage this year and choked out Montana De La Rosa in the second round, also winning Performance of the Night.

Naturally, everyone has high hopes for her and she is definitely expected to be a title contender in the near future.

Suarez’s future endeavours should be decided by her next fight with former strawweight champion and established veteran Jessica Andrade.