Top 5 Female Fighters To Look Out For in 2019

Top 5 Female Fighters To Look Out For in 2019  

By Claudia Peterson

As we get ready to welcome 2019, there are five female fighters that I find intriguing, and who I think can accomplish a lot this coming year.

No. 5 Pearl Gonzalez

If anyone deserves “comeback of the year fighter,” in my opinion it would be Pearl Gonzalez. The former UFC strawweight has won her last three fights since signing with Invicta in 2018. Prior to that, she lost her last two fights in the UFC, and was too quickly dispatched from the promotion. With a pro record of 12-3, Pearl Gonzalez is still a fighter with a lot to offer, and 2019 is poised to be the year where she proves to everyone that she has always belonged in the UFC. She will face Vanessa Porto for the vacant flyweight title in February.

No. 4 Aspen Ladd

Aspen Ladd has been making a lot of noise since debuting for the UFC back in 2017. Although the 23-year-old only has two fights in the promotion, she has been lauded for her vicious ground and pound and strength. She holds an undefeated record of 7 wins, 5 of those by knockout. She’s had one significant hiccup at the scale, which for such a young fighter could be cause for concern, but there is still time to rectify that issue. Of note, she holds an impressive win over former Invicta bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger, a fight that won her a performance of the night bonus. It is too early yet to tell whether Aspen will be powerful in the bantamweight division, as her true first test in the sport comes in the shape of Holly Holm in March.

No. 3 Jessica Eye

After spending most of her time fighting in the UFC as a bantamweight, Jessica Eye returned to the octagon in early 2018 and has won all of her three fights in that year. She now sits at the number 1 spot as a flyweight, and might just be the next flyweight challenger against Valentina Shevchenko. Eye had amassed an impressive record upon signing with the UFC back in 2013, but then took some time off after going 1-5 and a no-contest, leaving her with only one win in three years. While fighting as a bantamweight, Eye was known for being one of the best strikers in that division. Let’s see how she matches up against one of the best in Shevchenko in 2019.

No.2 Nina Ansaroff

Nina Ansaroff, now on a four fight winning streak dating back to January of 2017 can officially be called a title contender as she sits in the number 3 spot of the strawweight rankings. Despite having only recently reached the top ten rankings, Ansaroff is a veteran of the sport, her pro career dating back to 2010. Her most impressive win to date is of course her unanimous decision win over former title challenger Claudia Gadelha, a win that skyrocketed her to the top 5 of her division.

No. 1 Tatiana Suarez

Tatiana Suarez, the undefeated wrestling standout often compared to Khabib Nurmagomedov the undefeated lightweight champion,, recently put a major beatdown on former strawweight champion Carla Esparza. Esparza, a talented wrestler in her own right, did not have an answer for Tatiana’s powerful frame. Not only is Suarez an elite wrestler, but her story of surviving cancer makes what she is doing in MMA even more special. Suarez won the TUF 23 strawweight tournament and won performance of the night in her defeat of Amanda Cooper. 2019 brings back the strawweight division into gear with Rose Namajunas set to defend her title against Jessica Andrade in May, and there is rumor that Suarez might just be next in line for a title shot.