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2021 was a very eventful year for the UFC's women’s divisions and MMA in general. There were quite a few shocks and some incredible performances over the past 12 months.
Looking ahead to 2022, there are many potential rematches that the promotion could book. Based on what transpired in 2021, the UFC have lucrative fights in each of their women’s divisions.
The UFC women’s bantamweight championship changed hands at UFC 269 after Julianna Pena did the unthinkable and defeated Amanda Nunes. The outcome provides the promotion with plenty more possibilities at both featherweight and bantamweight.
Nunes is still the women’s featherweight champion, so her next title-defense could be interesting because she hasn’t had to bounce back from a loss in seven years. Furthermore, women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and strawweight champion Rose Namajunas could have rematches in the works as well. This list will look at 5 blockbuster women’s rematches that the UFC should book.
#5. Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate 2 – Rematch from UFC 196
Kicking off this list of blockbuster women’s rematches that the UFC should book is Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate 2. The two fought at UFC 196, when then-UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holm defended her title against Tate.
It was a very entertaining fight that saw Tate submit Holm with a rear-naked choke at 3:30 of the fifth round. Aside from the second round, ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ got the better of Tate and was closing-in on a successful title defense. It was a resilient effort by Tate, who cemented her legacy in the sport.
Holm is currently on a two-fight winning streak and the No.2-ranked women's bantamweight, while Tate lost her most recent fight. Even though 'The Preacher's Daughter' is ranked second, Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko are most likely ahead of her for the next title-shot. In the meantime, the UFC could offer Holm a rematch with Tate, which could be lucrative for both.
#4. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Julianna Pena 2 – Rematch from UFC on Fox 23
Another blockbuster women’s rematch that the UFC should book is Valentina Shevchenko vs. Julianna Pena. Normally, Shevchenko vs. Pena would be just another bout, but after UFC 269, this fight is more appealing.
'The Bullet' and Pena headlined UFC on Fox 23, which saw Shevchenko pick up a submission win. Shevchenko’s grappling had improved a lot since her previous bouts and that was on display in the win over Pena. With the win, 'The Bullet' earned a title-shot against then-UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes.
Now that Pena is the women’s bantamweight champion and Shevchenko is the women’s flyweight champion, this could be a legacy fight for both. The first fight took place at 135lbs, so it’d make sense for the rematch to be contested for Pena’s title. This is significant for the UFC women’s divisions because there could be another two-division champion after Amanda Nunes.
#3. Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza 2 – UFC strawweight championship
Another incredible women’s rematch that the UFC should book is Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza. The two fought on the TUF 20 finale back in 2014. The season was significant because it introduced the UFC women’s strawweight division. Not only would the winner become TUF champion and earn a UFC contract, but they'd also become inaugural UFC strawweight champion.
Esparza was dominant throughout the fight. She took Namajunas down multiple times and submitted her with a rear-naked choke in the third round to become UFC strawweight champion. Esparza’s title reign would be short-lived as she lost to Joanna Jedrzejczyk in her first title defense.
Since their bout, Namajunas has won the UFC strawweight championship twice and is one of the top women’s fighters. Esparza, on the other hand, hasn’t received another title shot since the TUF finale. However, she’s currently on a five-fight winning streak and should be next in-line for a title-shot.
#2. Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk 2 – Rematch from UFC 248
Another rematch that the UFC should book in their women’s division is Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The first bout between the two took place in the co-main event of UFC 248. This was the final pay-per-view before the pandemic put all major sports leagues on pause.
Fans witnessed arguably the greatest women’s MMA fight that night as Weili and Joanna went to war in the octagon. The two left everything in the octagon that night and the results were visible. The fight was a battle of will and resilience that resulted in both women earning a Fight of the Night bonus.
'Magnum' retained her UFC women’s strawweight championship by split decision after the judges scored the fight 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47. It’d be interesting to see whether the rematch would have the same result. Weilli has since lost back-to-back fights against Rose Namajunas, while Joanna hasn’t fought since that night.
#1. Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena 2 – Rematch from UFC 269
Topping this list of blockbuster rematches the UFC should book in their women’s divisions is Julianna Pena vs. Amanda Nunes. The first bout between Pena and Nunes took place a few weeks ago at UFC 269. Many believed it would be another successful title defense for Nunes before she turned her attention to Kayla Harrison.
Despite a great start by 'Lioness', the challenger had other ideas. Pena stunned Nunes with a combination before taking her down and submitting her with a rear-naked choke at 3:36 of round two. 'The Venezuelan Vixen' shocked the MMA world by defeating a champion who had looked unbeatable in recent years.
The new champion now has a great opportunity to make the demands for a potential rematch. Since Nunes is the reigning UFC women’s featherweight champion, the rematch could possibly be contested at 145lbs. Pena could ensure that she doesn’t lose her bantamweight title, while at the same time attempting to become a two-division champion.
Amanda Nunes could also be interested in a rematch. However, 'The Lioness' would be keen to regain the title she lost to Pena a few weeks back.
