Jun 7, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, UNITED STATES; Kayla Harrison (blue gloves) prepares to fight Julianna Pena (not pictured) in a bantamweight title bout during UFC 316 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

mma

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Rankings – Championship Changes Hands After UFC 316!

Get to know the changes that happened after UFC 316 title fight to the UFC women's bantamweight rankings!

The women’s bantamweight division has always been one of the most unpredictable weight classes in the UFC. Nobody saw Julianna Pena shocking Amanda Nunes back in 2021. Then again, nobody expected Raquel Pennington to finally capture gold after years of being a gatekeeper.

For years, this division lived in the shadow of Amanda Nunes’ dominance. But since her retirement, the division has been searching for its identity. The bantamweight belt changed hands once again as Julianna Pena outdueled Raquel Pennington at UFC 307, proving that the throne remains up for grabs. Now, in a major shift that would reshape the entire division, Kayla Harrison now sits atop the bantamweight mountain as the new champion after her domination over Pena at UFC 316.

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Rankings After UFC 316

Here are the updated women’s bantamweight rankings after UFC 316:

Ranking	Fighter
Champion	Kayla Harrison
#1	Julianna Pena
#2	Raquel Pennington
#3	Ketlen Vieira
#4	Norma Dumont
#5	Macy Chiasson
#6	Irene Aldana
#7	Ailin Perez
#8	Mayra Bueno Silva
#9	Yana Santos
#10	Karol Rosa
#11	Jacqueline Cavalcanti
#12	Nora Cornolle
#13	Miesha Tate
#14	Joselyne Edwards
#15	Chelsea Chandler

What’s Next For The Women’s Bantamweight Division

The immediate future of women’s bantamweight centers around Harrison establishing her reign and defending against hungry contenders. However, a title fight between her and returning Amanda Nunes seems inevitable. Pena could be looking at a fight with a top 5 ranked bantamweight to establish herself in the title shot conversation.

Beyond the title picture, several intriguing matchups could shake up the rankings. Pennington versus Vieira would be a striker versus grappler clash that could produce fireworks. Dumont’s continued rise puts her on a collision course with the top five, while veterans like Aldana and Tate provide experience and name recognition. The division benefits from having multiple legitimate contenders who could realistically challenge for the title on any given night.

The bantamweight division finally appears to have found its groove after years of uncertainty. This current landscape offers genuine competition and intrigue. Every fight matters, every win moves fighters closer to gold, and every loss sends them back to the drawing board!

(Image Credit: Vincent Carchietta – Imagn Images)

Julianna Pena

Kayla Harrison

UFC 316

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Rankings

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!