Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

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Women’s Atomweight

1. Ayaka Hamasaki (16-2)

The former Invicta FC champion won for the second time in as many outings under the Rizin FF banner, as she submitted Mina Kurobe with an opening round kimura on Sept. 30. Hamasaki has won seven of her last eight fights, with her only defeat during that time coming at the hands of current UFC strawweight talent Livinha Souza.

2. Seo Hee Ham (19-8)

After several tough bouts did not break her way, Ham was released from the UFC with a 1-3 promotional record and a lot of what-if propositions. If one of those hypotheticals involved how Ham would do back in her natural weight class, well, now we know. Upon returning to 105 pounds, Ham ran roughshod over veteran Mina Kurobe to take Road Fighting Championship’s vacant atomweight title. Then on Dec. 23, she blew away former Invicta title challenger Jinh Yu Frey in the first round. “Hamderlei Silva” is back in full effect.

3. Kanna Asakura (13-2)

Asakura scored a significant victory at Rizin 11, outpointing fellow Top-10 atomweight Rena Kubota in the main event at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Asakura’s current eight-bout winning streak includes a championship in Rizin’s 108-pound grand prix, as she continues to establish herself as one of the top lighter-weight fighters in the world.

4. Jinh Yu Frey (7-3)

It was not the cleanest of victories, but a controversial win is nonetheless a win. Frey now sits atop the Invicta Fighting Championships atomweight division following a five-round verdict over Finland’s Minna Grusander at Invicta 30. The triumph also erases the sting of a first-round knockout loss to Seo Hee Ham in a bid for the vacant Road Fighting Championship crown in December. Frey, who is 5-2 under the Invicta banner, will attempt to score a more emphatic triumph in a rematch with Grusander in the Invicta FC 33 main event on Dec. 15.

5. Mina Kurobe (12-4)

The reigning Deep Jewels queen came up short in her bid to knock off Sherdog.com’s top atomweight, falling to Ayaka Hamasaki via first-round submission at Rizin 13. The 41-year-old Japanese veteran has nonetheless been victorious in seven of her last nine appearances and could return to Deep Jewels to defend her crown in her next outing.

6. Rena Kubota (6-2)

After being choked out by Kanna Asakura in the final of Rizin Fighting Federation’s 108-pound grand prix in 2017, Kubota had a chance for revenge at Rizin 11. Alas, the Shoot Boxing star came up short once again in the rematch, this time via decision. The 27-year-old remains a formidable talent with a reputation for finishing, as six of her seven career triumphs have come inside the distance.

7. Maria de Oliveira Neta (10-4)

Neta, a product of Brazil’s Parana Vale Tudo impressed in her Rizin 108-pound grand prix quarterfinal against Alyssa Garcia in October and dominated the American with sharp striking. However, Neta had her nine-fight winning streak snapped on New Year’s Eve in the tournament semifinals, as she had no answer the grappling of Kanna Asakura, who armbarred her in the second round. Neta took another defeat on the Brazilian version of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contenders Series, falling to Marina Alcalde Rodriguez via first-round TKO. However, that bout was contested at strawweight, and Rodriguez has since signed a UFC deal.

8. Ashley Cummins (6-4)

Cummins opted to move down to 105 pounds following her loss on “The Ultimate Fighter 23,” and the move continues to pay dividends. Coming off of a competitive loss to former Invicta title challenger Jinh Yu Frey in July, “Smashley” responded handily at Invicta 27 on Jan. 13, pounding out a unanimous verdict over Stephanie Alba. Cummins has won three of her last four and will return against Jessica Delboni at Invicta FC 32 on Nov. 16.

9. Minna Grusander (6-2)

It appeared that Grusander was more active than opponent Jinh Yu Frey in their clash for the vacant atomweight strap at Invicta Fighting Championships 30. While the Finland native’s clinch work and occasional offense surpassed Frey’s efforts, Grusander ultimately lost a unanimous decision. Grusander will get a chance to avenge that defeat in a rematch with Frey at Invicta FC 33 on Dec. 15.

10. Kyra Batara (7-4)

After losing three of her first five fights, the 24-year-old Batara has quietly been building her resume. Competing primarily under the Combate Americas banner, “Mogwai” has won five of her last six professional outings. That includes a unanimous decision win over Paulina Granados in the Combate Americas 18 headliner.

Other Contenders: Lisbeth Lopez Silva, Satomi Takano, Emi Tomimatsu Tomo Maesawa, Jeong Eun Park

Sherdog’s divisional and pound-for-pound rankings are compiled by a panel of Sherdog.com staff members and contributors: Tristen Critchfield, Mike Fridley, Brian Knapp, Jesse Denis, Eric Stinton, Ben Duffy, Jay Pettry, Jacob Debets, Nathan Zur, Kevin Wilson, Edward Carbajal, Jason Burgos, Guy Portman, Anthony Walker, Tudor Leonte, Mark Raymundo, Jordan Colbert, Jordan Breen, Mike Sloan, Tom Feely, Adam Martin and Joao Baptista.