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The UFC women’s flyweight division is one of the most exciting divisions in the UFC. Keen gamblers become overly excited when they see mixed martial arts events on-screen or live, causing an adrenaline rush, especially when their flyweight idols’ names are mentioned.
In the women’s flyweight division, only the best earn the right to challenge for the title. With that said, with the help of the Odds provided by FanDuel, here are some of the best fighters in the division that punters can bet on, along with the current queen, Valentina Schevchenko.
Valentina Schevchenko
Ranked as the number two pound-for-pound female fighters in the world, Valentina “Bullet” Schevchenko is also the top dog of the UFC women’s flyweight division. She has held the title since 2018, capturing it from another tough fighter in Joanna Jędrzejczyk.
Primarily a striker, Bullet enjoys throwing stiff elbows and hard knees to her opponents. She excels in Muay Thai and is a world champion of the sport. Although striking is her main style, she isn’t shy when it comes to submissions. In her win record, Valentina has more submissions than knockouts. With a 20-3 record, look for Valentina to defend her title against a stacked flyweight division.
Jessica Andrade
Jessica Andrade is a former champion in the division. She is a Brazillian boxer and is highly trained in BJJ or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Before being a fighter, Jessica grew up enjoying and excelling at futsal. Known for her toughness, Jessica often stuffs her opponent and leaves them in the dust.
Even though she lost her UFC debut to Liz Carmouche, she weathered the storm and defeated Rose Namajunas via a body slam. Ironically, Jessica Andrade’s moniker is bate estaca, brazillian for piledriver. This name was given to her when she illegally piledrived her opponent on the mat.
After being defeated by Zhang Weili for the title, she lost to Rose Namajunas in a rematch. Jessica is on her way to redemption as she has bounced back, knocking out Katlyn Chookagian for a Performance of the Night award.
Katlyn Chookagian
Katlyn “Blonde Fighter” Chookagian is one of the top contenders in the featherweight division. She is a grappler and loves to get opponents to the ground. Although she’s well versed in submissions, she has more knockouts in her win career.
She is currently the number two ranked fighter in their division. The Blonde Fighter also handed one of the most convincing defeats to Antonia Schevchenko, the sister of the division’s champion.
Lauren Murphy
With eight wins by knockout, Lauren Murphy is a fan favorite when it comes to the flyweight division. Known as a knockout artist, Lauren Murphy fell in love with MMA as a jiu jitsu practitioner. She is also notable for going professional, even without an amateur background.
Her most recent fight was with Liliya Shakirova. Murphy finished her intense fight against Shakirova in 3 minutes and 31 seconds after only two rounds. The fight took place on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, on October 24, 2020. Lauren Murphy won via submission due to a rear-naked choke. She is currently on a 4-fight win streak.
Jennifer Maia
The name “Maia” is one of the most recognizable names in MMA. Although she isn’t related to Demian Maia, Jennifer Maia’s style is somewhat similar. She is an elite BJJ practitioner and has a record of 18 wins and 7 losses. Most notably, she has five submission wins compared to four knockouts.
During her fight with Roxanne Modafferi, viewers were flabbergasted by Maia’s Muay Thai skills en route to a unanimous decision victory. Her most recent win however, was more dominating, as she submitted a contender in Joanne Calderwood. She would be rewarded with a title fight with Valentina Schevchenko, ultimately losing in unanimous decision. Look for Maia to redeem herself in the UFC.
Cynthia Calvillo
Cynthia Calvillo is a Mexican-American UFC flyweight fighter who made her debut in 2012 and gained a 5-1 record throughout four years. She also competes for the strawweight women division. At the age of 33, Calvillo is highly praised for her excellent moves, making her one of the best fighters in the world.
Her back-to-back wins against Poliana Botelho and Cortney Casey earned her widespread acclaim. Cavillo beat up Botelho with her strong, heavy punches in just one round, lasting 4 minutes and 48 seconds. She also showcased her experiences by defeating Casey on February 17, 2019. Calvillo won the fight by way of unanimous decision.
Joanne Calderwood
Joanne Calderwood’s dominance is undeniable, as evidenced by her recent win against Jessica Eye. Calderwood is a Scottish mixed martial artist best known for her Muay Thai fighting style. Her unanimous decision win over Jessica Eye during their match at UFC 257 catapulted her into the top ranks of the flyweight division.
Final Thoughts
From Jessica Andrade, Katlyn Chookagian, to Cynthia Calvillo, the flyweight division represents that women can dominate in MMA. Rounding out these fighters is Valentina Schevchenko, one of the most dominant female fighters in the world.