The catalyst for the positional shifts occurred during the weekend events when Erin Blanchfield suffered a notable loss at UFC Edmonton. Facing off against Jasmine Jasudavicius, Blanchfield was outgrappled over the course of the bout, leading to a pivotal defeat that directly impacted her standing among the world's elite fighters. Consequently, the panel of experts adjusted their evaluations to reflect current form and recent competitive outcomes.

Capitalizing on the vacancy, Tatiana Suarez has climbed one position to secure the No. 9 ranking. Suarez holds a professional mixed martial arts record of 12 wins and a single defeat. Her most recent appearance inside the cage came at UFC 327 in April, where she overcame early adversity to secure a submission victory against Loopy Godinez in the second round.

Looking ahead, Suarez has a massive opportunity to further solidify her standing when she returns to action on November 7. She is scheduled to face Virna Jandiroba in a high-stakes showdown that will feature prominently on the upcoming calendar. Both athletes are eager to cement their positions near the summit of the division.

Virna Jandiroba enters the women's pound-for-pound top ten for the first time in this cycle, claiming the No. 10 spot. Jandiroba boasts an impressive career record of 23 wins and four losses in professional mixed martial arts competition. Her inclusion in the top tier comes despite not having fought since April, when she earned a unanimous decision victory over Tabatha Ricci.

Jandiroba's entry into the rankings was secured after receiving support from three of the five panelists on the voting committee. The remaining votes from the panel were split between Jasmine Jasudavicius, following her triumph over Blanchfield, and bantamweight competitor Joselyne Edwards, who is currently enjoying a five-fight winning streak in her professional career.

At the very pinnacle of the pound-for-pound rankings sits Valentina Shevchenko. The dominant flyweight maintains a professional record of 26 wins, four losses, and one draw. Although Shevchenko has been sidelined due to injury and vacated her championship belt, her previous body of work keeps her securely at the summit of women's mixed martial arts.

Shevchenko's last appearance inside the Octagon came in November 2025, when she secured a dominant unanimous decision victory against Zhang Weili. Her previous dominance included a memorable trilogy against Alexa Grasso during 2022 and 2023, where she went one win, one loss, and one draw. Once fully recovered from her injuries, Shevchenko intends to challenge for her former title.

Occupying the No. 2 position in the rankings is Zhang Weili. Operating across both the flyweight and strawweight divisions, Zhang holds a professional record of 26 wins and four losses. Following a long period of dominance at 115 pounds, her transition to challenge Shevchenko at UFC 322 proved to be a formidable challenge, though she remains one of the sport's premier talents.

Cris Cyborg holds the No. 3 spot in the global rankings while competing as the featherweight champion for the Professional Fighters League. Cyborg carries a remarkable professional record of 30 wins, two losses, and one no-contest. Her career resurgence continued in December when she secured a submission victory at PFL Lyon, following a notable win over Ketlen Vieira in August.

Natalia Silva occupies the No. 4 position in the divisional and pound-for-pound listings. Holding a professional record of 21 wins, five losses, and one draw, Silva captured the vacant UFC flyweight championship by defeating Wang Cong at UFC 332. This victory followed impressive performances against top-tier opponents including Alexa Grasso and Rose Namajunas.

Mackenzie Dern is ranked at No. 5 as the reigning UFC strawweight champion. Dern holds a professional record of 17 wins and five losses, having established herself at the top of the 115-pound division. With four consecutive victories, including a successful title defense against Gillian Robertson in August, Dern continues to showcase her elite jiu-jitsu background.

Alexa Grasso sits at No. 6 in the pound-for-pound hierarchy with a professional record of 18 wins, five losses, and one draw. Grasso famously submitted Valentina Shevchenko to capture the UFC title in 2023. After subsequent bouts against Shevchenko and a loss to Natalia Silva, Grasso rebounded by defeating Maycee Barber and overcoming Manon Fiorot at Noche UFC.

Dakota Ditcheva is positioned at No. 7 representing the PFL flyweight division. With a flawless professional record of 16 wins and zero losses, Ditcheva has dominated her competition. After winning the 2024 PFL season with a technical knockout against Taila Santos, she returned from hand injuries to defeat Denise Kielholtz at PFL New York.

Manon Fiorot rounds out the top eight competitors at No. 8 in the rankings. The French contender holds a professional record of 13 wins and three losses. Before dropping a competitive decision to Alexa Grasso at Noche UFC, Fiorot had successfully defeated every opponent put before her by the promotion, save for former champion Valentina Shevchenko.

The criteria for inclusion in the ESPN pound-for-pound rankings stipulate that a fighter must have competed within the past twelve months or have an officially booked upcoming fight. Athletes removed due to inactivity can only return to consideration after stepping back into competition. The panel consists of seasoned MMA journalists including Brett Okamoto, Carlos Contreras Legaspi, Andrew Davis, Dre Waters, and Jeff Wagenheim.

With the upcoming clash between Tatiana Suarez and Virna Jandiroba on November 7, the landscape of the women's divisions is primed for further evolution. The winner of that high-profile encounter will undoubtedly position themselves at the forefront of the championship conversation. As the final months of the year unfold, the competitive pressure across the flyweight and strawweight divisions continues to intensify.

The panel members themselves showed slight variations in their individual ballots while compiling the weekly update. While consensus was reached on the majority of the top-tier athletes, differing opinions emerged regarding the final spots, highlighting the depth and competitiveness currently present throughout the various weight classes in women's mixed martial arts.

Fighters such as Joselyne Edwards and Jasmine Jasudavicius continue to knock on the door of the elite tier through consistent performances and notable victories. Their inclusion in the voting discussions demonstrates the expanding talent pool across the major fighting organizations, ensuring that rankings will remain fluid as upcoming events unfold in the schedule.

As the combat sports community looks forward to the next series of events, athletes across the flyweight and strawweight divisions are acutely aware of the stakes. Every match carries significant implications for championship aspirations and positional rankings, driving competitors to deliver peak performances every time they step inside the cage.

Known by her nickname "La Loba," Acosta had long been positioned as a central figure for Combate Global. However, her tenure ended in May following a period of significant inactivity that left the fighter frustrated and unable to secure alternative competitive opportunities.

Acosta publicly addressed the split earlier this year, citing severe restrictions placed upon her by the promotion. She alleged that her contract prevented her from competing in any combat sports, including jiu-jitsu, while the organisation failed to provide her with regular fight opportunities.

"They left us inactive for a minute," Acosta explained to Uncrowned. "At the end of the day, when we wanted to try and generate other types of opportunities for me, they weren't allowing me to fight. That's why the problems and the issues came up."

The fighter noted that the lack of bouts had a direct impact on her livelihood. She emphasised that her professional agreements were intended to facilitate fighting, not to keep her sidelined, which ultimately led to the breakdown of her relationship with the promotion.

Acosta's experience mirrors that of other fighters within the organisation, such as Maritza Sanchez, who was also sidelined for an extended period before completing her contract in March 2025. Acosta, however, had been frequently promoted as the face of the company.

The transition to the PFL was facilitated by the expiration of her previous contract. According to Acosta, while Combate Global held a one-year matching clause, they were unable to match the terms offered by the PFL, which included a six-fight, two-year agreement.

Acosta stated that the process of securing her release was prolonged by the promotion, despite their inability to provide the financial terms or the activity level she required. She described the situation as a relief once the contract finally concluded.

Combate Global has experienced a volatile period of operations over the last two years. After a hiatus between July 2024 and March 2025, the promotion returned with a series of events before facing further scheduling instability and numerous cancellations throughout the latter half of 2025 and 2026.

During her time with the promotion, CEO Campbell McLaren frequently highlighted Acosta's popularity, often referring to her as one of the most-watched female fighters in the history of the sport. These claims were based on television viewership figures across various networks.

Despite the high profile she held within the organisation, Acosta's recent comments reflect a deep dissatisfaction with the management of her career. She maintained that her focus remained on training and managing her finances as best she could while in limbo.

With the PFL debut now imminent, Acosta is looking to move past the disputes that defined her final months at Combate Global. She is focused on re-establishing her career and returning to active competition in the cage this weekend.

The PFL event in Chicago represents a significant step for the Mexican prospect as she joins a new roster. Her performance against Shannon Clark will be closely watched as she attempts to prove her capabilities on a new platform.

Acosta holds a professional record of 8-2. Her transition to the PFL is expected to provide the consistent schedule she has been seeking since her activity levels dropped significantly following her previous successful runs.

The broader landscape of MMA continues to see shifts in fighter movement, with many athletes navigating complex contract structures. Acosta’s case highlights the ongoing challenges fighters face regarding exclusivity clauses and the necessity for regular competition.

As she prepares for the upcoming bout, Acosta has expressed gratitude for the opportunity to finally return to professional action. The PFL debut serves as the culmination of her efforts to break free from the constraints of her previous contract.

The fight card in Chicago is part of the PFL's ongoing schedule, which continues to attract talent from various regional promotions. Acosta’s inclusion in the lineup is one of the notable storylines for the event.

Looking ahead, the 32-year-old is expected to compete regularly under her new contract. Her primary goal is to regain the momentum she had earlier in her career when she was a consistent presence on the Combate Global circuit.

The resolution of her contract dispute allows Acosta to focus entirely on her technical development and physical preparation. She remains committed to her career in mixed martial arts despite the setbacks encountered over the past two years.

Fans and analysts will be observing how Acosta performs after a lengthy period of relative inactivity. Her ability to adapt to the PFL environment will be a key factor in her future success within the division.