5 blockbuster fights to book in the UFC women's strawweight division

C. Naik
5 fights to make at 115 pounds [Images via @carlaesparza1, @rosenamajunas @marinarodriguezmma and @joannajedrzejczyk on Instagram]
5 fights to make at 115 pounds [Images via @carlaesparza1, @rosenamajunas @marinarodriguezmma and @joannajedrzejczyk on Instagram]

#4. Tecia Torres vs. Amanda Ribas

Tecia Torres suffered a heartbreaking loss in her last outing, coming up short against Mackenzie Dern in a closely contested affair. She currently occupies the No.8 spot in the strawweight division and has already lost to most of the fighters ranked above her.

'The Tiny Tornado' has never been finished in her professional career and has been on the short end of numerous close decisions. A few minor adjustments to her game, coupled with increased striking output, could do wonders for the 32-year-old going forward.

The split decision loss to Dern earlier this year saw Torres' three-fight win streak hit a wall and she will need to put together another string of victories to work her way towards title contention. A fight against No.9-ranked contender Amanda Ribas appears to make sense, with both fighters looking to return to winning ways.

Ribas is coming off a failed attempt at breaking into the top tier of the flyweight division with her narrow split-decision loss to former 125-pound title challenger Katlyn Chookagian. Still among the top ten at 115 pounds, the bubbly Brazilian will be looking to climb the ranks in her next outing.

Torres vs. Ribas is a fiery matchup as well and could make for an action-packed fight.


#3. Tatiana Suarez vs. Jessica Andrade

Tatiana Suarez could turn out to be the biggest 'what if' in the history of the strawweight division if her luck doesn't turn. The undefeated wrestling phenom enjoyed a scintillating rise up the ranks between 2016 and 2019, with many tipping her as a future champion. Unfortunately, injuries have derailed her momentum ever since.

When fully fit, the Mexican-American is a handful for any fighter. Suarez has a suffocating and relentless style of fighting, much like one of her favorite fighters, former UFC pound-for-pound and lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Suarez sustained an injury soon after her last win against Nina Nunes in 2019, which put her on the sidelines for the next two years. She was expected to return against Roxanne Modafferi last year, but a new injury forced her into yet another hiatus.

In a recent interview with Helen Yee, she stated that she's back to full fitness and is looking to return later this year. Her professional record currently stands at 8-0 and she was ranked in the divisional top ten before injuries forced her out of action.

A fight against former UFC champion Jessica Andrade is an ideal litmus to determine whether Suarez is still a legitimate title contender or not. Andrade dropped back down to strawweight following a two-fight cameo at flyweight and has made no secret of her title aspirations.

Jessica Andrade endured a bittersweet stint in the UFC flyweight division after her loss to Rose Namajunas in 2020. The Brazilian powerhouse made light work of perennial top contender Katlyn Chookagian but subsequently came up short against flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko, prompting a move back down to strawweight.

On her return to 115 pounds, Andrade solidified her place in the top tier of the division with her incredible first-round submission victory over rising contender Amanda Lemos. 'Bate Estaca' delivered the first-ever standing arm-triangle choke in UFC history to make a resounding re-entry into the strawweight title mix.

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