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To boxing purists, mixed martial
arts is anathema. Boxing, however, has played a key role in the
development of MMA and its journey to the position it holds
today as a globally popular sport - and continues to exert
influence. Fighters with a solid base in the discipline are
often considered to be well-rounded thanks to their exceptional
footwork, evasive head movements and, of course, those deadly
hands.
The rise of women’s MMA through promotions like Invicta and the
UFC has opened up new career possibilities for female boxers. In
this article, we’ll be taking a look at which of the current
crop of UFC and Invicta fighters can be considered the greatest
boxers in WMMA.
1. Holly Holm
The former UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion is the first woman
who springs to mind when it comes to exceptional boxing in the
sport of MMA. Knocking out Ronda Rousey may have been one of
Holm's defining moments in the UFC,
but as a pro boxer she has carved out for herself one of the
most stellar careers of any fighter.
Before making the transition to full time MMA, ‘The Preacher’s
Daughter’ was a world champion title holder in three separate
weight classes. As the highest-ranked female boxer of all time
(pound for pound), Holm made no less than 16 successful title
defences, including her WBA and WBC belts.
With numerous accolades to her name, including an entry into the
Boxing Hall of Fame, Holly Holm
is an exemplary sportswoman and has dealt with the trials and
tribulations of a career as a pro fighter with incredible
dignity.
2. Amanda Nunes
The current UFC Women’s Featherweight and Bantamweight champion
has what could only be termed as a killer instinct. As one of
the most aggressive fighters in WMMA and known for her deadly
strikes, most people would assume that Amanda Nunes had a
background as a professional boxer.
In truth, however, her prowess as a striker is mostly down to
natural-born talent – or should that be supernatural? Nunes
primarily trained in Capoeira, Karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
before adding boxing training into the mix – all of which have
produced one of the most feared fighters in WMMA.
While Nunes has made short work of both the featherweight and
bantamweight divisions in the UFC - including taking the belt
from Holly Holm - it was her 2021 superfight against Cris Cyborg
that was the most definitive of her career so far.
3. Valentina Schevchenko
Nicknamed ‘The Bullet’, Valentina Shevchenko is a truly
formidable fighter; her
22-3 MMA record speaks for itself. The current UFC Women’s
Flyweight Champion reigns supreme as the #1 in women’s pound for
pound UFC rankings and is known for blazing through her
opponents with a deadly combination of well-placed strikes and
dominating groundwork.
Unlike some of the other women fighters on this list,
Schevchenko does have a background in professional boxing and
was even a potential contender for the 2012 WIBA Lightweight
title.
4. Irene Aldana
Currently ranked #4 in the UFC pound for pound rankings,
Irene Aldana is another bantamweight fighter who consistently
impresses when it comes to her boxing skills despite not having
any prior elite boxing experience.
Instead, Aldana went straight into mixed martial arts when she
joined Mexico’s Lobo Gym upon graduation. In 2014, she joined
the Invicta promotion, where she was mostly known for her
dominating ground game. Since entering the Octagon in 2016,
Aldana has showcased her superior boxing skills, particularly
her fleet footwork.
5. Jennifer Maia
The former Invicta FC Flyweight World Champion and a current
member of the UFC’s flyweight division, Jennifer Maia
was once on the way to boxing superstardom. She made her
professional boxing debut back in 2008 and racked up 3 wins
fighting for the Brazilian Centri de Boxe promotion. Just one
year later, however, she made the decision to move to MMA full
time.
Boxing fans who don’t tune into her MMA fights are missing a
trick. Since signing with the UFC in 2018, Maia has worked
consistently at her game and is now as adept with her Muay Thai
and grappling skills as she is with her hands.
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