When I think of female MMA fighters, Gina Carano still comes to mind first. She was the face of the sport for a time and brought a lot of attention to it. Cris Cyborg is another pioneer, showing just how dominant and skilled female fighters can be. But no one shifted the game like Ronda Rousey. She put female MMA on the map, though looking back, she’s nowhere near the level of today’s champions. Fighters like Zhang Weili show just how far the sport has come—I love her. I also love Rena! 

Let’s not forget the fighters in Japan and ONE FC. Stamp Fairtex has a huge following, and Seika Izawa is good. Still hasn’t lost. Female MMA has evolved a lot, but the East continues to produce talent that deserves more recognition.