{"id":369792,"date":"2020-12-02T05:59:23","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T13:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=369792"},"modified":"2020-12-02T05:59:23","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T13:59:23","slug":"10-women-to-watch-in-mma-in-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/ufc\/10-women-to-watch-in-mma-in-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"10 women to watch in MMA in 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has made 2020 a very tough year for MMA, but 2021 looks like it could much better\u2014particularly for the women&#8217;s side of the sport.<\/p>\n<p>As the 2021 calendar starts to fill up, a number of female fighters look poised for huge things, from the UFC&#8217;s Octagon, to the ONE Championship Circle, to the PFL and Bellator MMA cages.<\/p>\n<p>Here are 10 women we&#8217;re excited to watch in the coming year of MMA.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Seo Hee Ham: ONE Championship atomweight<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-337041\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Seo-Hee-Ham.png\" alt=\"Seo Hee Ham\" width=\"696\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Seo-Hee-Ham.png 696w, https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Seo-Hee-Ham-300x172.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After achieving fantastic things in South Korea&#8217;s Road FC and Japan&#8217;s Rizin Fighting Federation, Seo Hee Ham recently signed with ONE Championship. While the details of the Korean&#8217;s ONE debut are still a mystery, she stands out as one of the most experienced women on the promotion&#8217;s roster, and with the ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix just around the corner, she has a very clear path to the top of her new division.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Valerie Loureda: Bellator flyweight<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_359611\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-359611\" style=\"width: 696px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-359611\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Valerie-Loureda-2.png\" alt=\"Valerie Loureda\" width=\"696\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Valerie-Loureda-2.png 696w, https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Valerie-Loureda-2-300x172.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-359611\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image via @valerieloureda on Instagram (photographer not listed)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Bellator&#8217;s Valerie Loureda is much more than a pretty face. She&#8217;s proven that in her first three MMA bouts in the Bellator cage, authoring decisive wins at the expense Colby Fletcher, Larkyn Dasch and Tara Graff.<\/p>\n<p>While she doesn&#8217;t have a fight booked at the moment, it&#8217;s safe to assume she&#8217;ll get a big step up in competition next time out and potentially set herself up for a huge year.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Denice Zamboanga: ONE Championship atomweight<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-333793\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Denice-Zamboanga-4.jpg\" alt=\"Denice Zamboanga, MMA\" width=\"696\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Denice-Zamboanga-4.jpg 696w, https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Denice-Zamboanga-4-300x172.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Denice Zamboanga has looked unstoppable in the ONE Championship Circle. The Filipina atomweight, who is 8-0 as a pro, is now 3-0 under the ONE banner, including decisive victories over promotional mainstays Jihin Radzuan and Mei Yamaguchi.<\/p>\n<p>She doesn&#8217;t currently have a fight on the horizon, but seems like a shoo-in to compete in the upcoming ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix\u2014and perhaps even win the whole thing to earn herself a shot at the undisputed title.<\/p>\n<p><b>Amanda Nunes: UFC featherweight and bantamweight champion<\/b><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_305410\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-305410\" style=\"width: 696px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-305410 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Amanda-Nunes-6.png\" alt=\"Amanda Nunes, Dana White, UFC\" width=\"696\" height=\"397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Amanda-Nunes-6.png 696w, https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Amanda-Nunes-6-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-305410\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image via @ufc on Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Amanda Nunes is the greatest female fighter of all time, and all signs point to her cementing that status in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>While her December featherweight title defense against Megan Anderson was regrettably canceled, the bout will most likely be rescheduled for early 2021. Provided she gets through that defense unscathed, we can probably expect to rattle off some more defenses of her bantamweight title thereafter. Unless, of course, she elects to hang up the gloves and enjoy life as a new mother.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stamp Fairtex: ONE Championship atomweight<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-323618\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Stamp-Fairtex-1-4.jpg\" alt=\"Stamp Fairtex, ONE Championship, MMA\" width=\"696\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Stamp-Fairtex-1-4.jpg 696w, https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Stamp-Fairtex-1-4-300x172.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Stamp Fairtex hasn&#8217;t had the best year, as she lost her ONE atomweight kickboxing title to Janet Todd, and her ONE atomweight Muay Thai title to Allycia Hellen Rodrigues\u2014both via hotly debated decisions.<\/p>\n<p>The one silver lining of those title losses, however, is that Stamp now has significantly more bandwidth to focus on her burgeoning MMA career. The Thai striking whiz is already 4-0 in the sport, and is likely to improve that tally in 2021\u2014most likely in the ONE Atomweight World Grand Prix.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cris Cyborg: Bellator featherweight champion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-369817\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cris-Cyborg-11.png\" alt=\"Cris Cyborg\" width=\"696\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cris-Cyborg-11.png 696w, https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cris-Cyborg-11-300x172.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It feels like every year is a big year for Cris Cyborg. Yet having found a new home in Bellator MMA, where she is now the reigning featherweight champion, it&#8217;s possible that 2021 will be the best year of her career to date.<\/p>\n<p>She doesn&#8217;t have a fight scheduled at the moment, but as one of the biggest names on the Bellator roster, and the closest thing to surefire entertainment that you&#8217;ll find in this sport, we can probably expect her to get something lined up soon.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kayla Harrison: PFL lightweight champion\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_367234\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-367234\" style=\"width: 696px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-367234 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kayla-Harrison-3.jpg\" alt=\"Kayla Harrison, PFL\" width=\"696\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kayla-Harrison-3.jpg 696w, https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kayla-Harrison-3-300x172.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-367234\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image via The PFL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Former Olympic judoka Kayla Harrison, widely regarded as one of the most lethal women in MMA at present, didn&#8217;t get to compete as much as she wanted in 2020 thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Expect her to make up for lost time in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>After a destructive featherweight win over Courtney King in the Invicta cage earlier this month, she&#8217;s got momentum on her side as the PFL ramps back up for a huge 2021 season. That&#8217;s a frightening thought for any woman that steps into the cage with her.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Weili Zhang: UFC strawweight champion<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_323690\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-323690\" style=\"width: 696px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-323690 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Weili-Zhang-2.png\" alt=\"Weili Zhang, UFC\" width=\"696\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Weili-Zhang-2.png 696w, https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Weili-Zhang-2-300x172.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-323690\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image via @zhangweilimma on Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>UFC strawweight champ Weili Zhang has already established herself as one of the best female fighters in MMA with unforgettable wins over former champs Jessica Andrade and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.<\/p>\n<p>As we close in on 2021, all signs point to the Chinese champ imminently defending her title against another former titleholder in Rose Namajunas. If she wins that fight, it will affirm her status as one of the sport&#8217;s pound-for-pound queens\u2014and with millions of fans in China watching closely, one of its biggest stars.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Claressa Shields\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-320273\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Claressa-Shields.png\" alt=\"Claressa Shields, MMA\" width=\"696\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Claressa-Shields.png 696w, https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Claressa-Shields-300x172.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Claressa Shields has yet to compete in MMA, but as we now know, that&#8217;s going to change in 2021, as the the three-division boxing champion recently inked a deal with the PFL. She certainly has a lot to learn if she intends to thrive in an entirely new sport, but at just 25 years old, she&#8217;s in the prime of her athletic life, and seems well-positioned to do so.<\/p>\n<p>Expect her to punch some heads into the bleachers\u2014maybe even kick them\u2014in the very near future.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Angela Lee: ONE Championship atomweight champion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-358982\" src=\"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Angela-Lee-2-1.png\" alt=\"Angela Lee, ONE Championship\" width=\"696\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Angela-Lee-2-1.png 696w, https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/wp-content\/uploads\/Angela-Lee-2-1-300x172.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re unlikely to see much much of ONE atomweight champion Angela Lee in 2021, as she and her husband, ONE lightweight competitor Bruno Pucci, are expecting their first child. That being said, Lee has expressed optimism that she&#8217;ll be ready to fight again before the year as out, and if anyone is capable of mounting that kind of comeback, it&#8217;s the woman nicknamed &#8220;Unstoppable.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Look for the champ to make <a href=\"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/exclusive-interviews\/angela-lee-expects-to-return-a-completely-different-animal-after-birth-of-first-child\/\">a huge statement<\/a>\u2014much to the surprise of her doubters\u2014before the new year is out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has made 2020 a very tough year for MMA, but 2021 looks like it could much better\u2014particularly for the women&#8217;s side of the sport. As the 2021 calendar starts to fill up, a number of female fighters look poised for huge things, from the UFC&#8217;s Octagon, to the ONE Championship Circle, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54430,"featured_media":369823,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[44,19776,24130,39610],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.7 (Yoast SEO v19.14) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>10 women to watch in MMA in 2021 | BJPenn.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The pandemic has made 2020 a very tough year for MMA, but 2021 looks like it could be much better\u2014particularly for the women in the sport.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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