Mixed martial arts (MMA) has long been seen as a male-dominated sport. However, over the past two decades, women have made great strides in levelling the playing field and earning respect as fierce competitors. This article traces the history of women in MMA and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), profiles some of the top female fighters, and examines the remaining challenges that women face in reaching true gender equality in the sport.
In the early days of mixed martial arts, female fights were uncommon and often prohibited. But thanks to the determination of pioneering women who overcame obstacles and prejudices, women’s MMA has gained increased prominence and legitimacy.
The sport now enjoys mainstream popularity and acceptance, with women competing on the largest stages like the UFC. Still, women continue to battle stereotypes and unequal treatment compared to their male counterparts.
The Roots of Women’s MMA
While the first Ultimate Fighting Championship event in 1993 featured only male competitors, women soon began emerging as serious contenders in the nascent sport of MMA. Team-based events like HooknShoot and Smackgirl started including women’s matches as early as 1997.
In the early 2000s, pioneers like Gina Carano and Cris “Cyborg” Justino helped prove that women could put on exciting, competitive fights. Their success paved the way for women to join premier MMA organisations.
In 2007, Carano became the first MMA superstar during her time with EliteXC. Her gruelling bout against Cyborg in 2009 remains one of the most viewed women’s MMA matches.
Despite misgivings from UFC President Dana White, women continued making inroads into top promotions. Strikeforce signed stars like Cyborg and formed a solid women’s division.
Finally, in 2012, White relented and announced that women would join the UFC’s ranks.
The Rise of Rousey and the UFC’s Women’s Divisions
The arrival of Ronda Rousey truly ushered women’s MMA into the mainstream. After winning early fights in Strikeforce, she immediately won the UFC bantamweight title in 2013 and became a crossover media sensation.
Rousey’s trash-talking style and quick submissions made her a huge draw. She headlined multiple UFC pay-per-view events and defended her belt six times from 2013 to 2015.
Spurred by Rousey’s popularity, the UFC formed a women’s strawweight division in 2013. Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Rose Namajunas emerged as its early champions.
The women’s featherweight division arrived in 2017, with Cyborg and Amanda Nunes holding its only belts so far.
Today, women routinely headline major UFC events and PPV cards – a massive shift from the days when Dana White doubted whether women could fight in the Octagon at all.
Current Stars of Women’s MMA
While Ronda Rousey built the foundation, several women have taken women’s MMA to new heights and captured public interest:
- Amanda Nunes: The ferocious and well-rounded Brazilian is the only woman to hold UFC titles in two divisions simultaneously. She has dominated opponents like Cyborg, Rousey, and Valentina Shevchenko.
- Rose Namajunas: The slick submission artist defeated intimidating former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk twice to win and defend the UFC strawweight title.
- Valentina Shevchenko: Technical and tactical, Shevchenko has compiled a 22-3 record. She lost twice to Nunes but reigns as the UFC flyweight champion.
- Weili Zhang: China’s first UFC champion, Zhang brings intensity and a well-rounded skillset. Her back-and-forth brawl against Joanna Jedrzejczyk in 2020 was an instant classic.
- Julianna Pena: In a massive upset, Pena submitted mighty Amanda Nunes by rear naked choke at UFC 269 to claim the bantamweight belt.
While styles and strengths vary, these women all bring an impressive level of skill, determination, and showmanship that was unimaginable to critics of women’s MMA just 10-15 years ago. They continue to win over sceptics and fans alike.
The Ongoing Fight for Equality
Despite women’s impressive progress, female fighters still face struggles for equal treatment:
- Pay inequality: Top women still earn much less than men, and undercard women earn especially low pay. Amanda Nunes was reportedly paid $500,000 for UFC 269, while lesser-known male fighters earned $750,000 or more.
- Fewer opportunities/events: There are still fewer weight classes and events dedicated to women compared to men in the UFC.
- Lack of promotion/respect: Some feel women are not promoted and hyped as strongly as men. Disrespectful language still occurs at times.
- Absence at the top: No women are currently major MMA promoters, coaches, executives, or broadcasters.
But women continue working to improve MMA’s culture and have leverage due to their drawing power. Associations like the Women’s MMA Association advocate for better treatment too.
If women maintain their upward momentum, the future looks bright for Gender equality in the Octagon. But persistent effort will be required to eradicate outdated attitudes.
Highest-Paid Women MMA Fighters
| Fighter | Earnings | Major Promotion |
|---|---|---|
| Amanda Nunes | $1 million | UFC |
| Cris Cyborg | $750,000 | Bellator |
| Kayla Harrison | $750,000 | PFL |
| Claressa Shields | $650,000 | PFL |
| Julianna Pena | $350,000 | UFC |
So, Women’s MMA has come incredibly far since the sceptical days of the 1990s and early 2000s. Pioneers like Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg blazed a trail to the UFC doorstep. Ronda Rousey then kicked that door down and made women’s fights must-see entertainment.
Today, Amanda Nunes, Valentina Shevchenko, Weili Zhang, Rose Namajunas and other women have achieved superstardom and competitive equality with men. UFC titles and main events now seem securely within women’s reach.
But pay gaps, promotion issues, and ingrained biases show the fight for true Gender equality is far from over. By continuing to excel as athletes and advocates, though, women can keep advancing toward equal opportunity and respect. MMA is not yet an entirely level playing field, but the evolution of women’s involvement proves barriers can crumble when met with determination to compete and succeed.
