The women's divisions are in trouble and the numbers do not lie.
Strawweight (115 lbs): The strongest division. Zhang Weili is a legitimate star. Challengers like Tatiana Suarez and Amanda Lemos keep it interesting. This division is fine.
Flyweight (125 lbs): Valentina Shevchenko dominated for years but the division never developed depth behind her. Current state has 3-4 legitimate contenders and a lot of filler. Needs investment.
Bantamweight (135 lbs): Critical condition. After Amanda Nunes retired, the division lost its anchor. The talent pool is thin. Most cards feature 135-pounders who would be better served at 125 or 145.
Featherweight (145 lbs): Does this division even exist anymore? The UFC has never invested in building it. It was created for Cyborg, limped along, and has functionally zero contenders.
Proposed fixes:
- Merge 145 and 135. The talent pool cannot support both.
- Add a 105-pound atomweight division. ONE Championship has shown this works. The talent exists globally.
- Invest in international scouting. Brazil, Central Asia, and East Asia have untapped female MMA talent.
Sources:
- UFC.com — division rankings
- Sherdog — active fighter counts per division
- ONE Championship — atomweight division as a model