1. Valentina Shevchenko (UFC champion)
I get the feeling Valentina could dominate the 125-pound division for as long as she wants. Does Amanda Nunes move down? After a dominating performance over Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Amanda Nunes moving down is the only real competition I see for “Bullet”.
2. Jessica Eye
Three wins in a row have earned “Evil Eye” a title shot if of course, nobody moves down or up to fight the champion.
3. Katlyn Chookagian
I’m going with Katlyn over Liz Carmouche at this point, even with a loss to Carmouche and Jessica Eye, Chakoogian has improved and won three straight before her UFC 231 loss in December.
4. Liz Carmouche
Going 3-3 in her last six fights hurts the United States Marine Corps veteran. The veteran fighter is still worthy of a top 5 spot, however.
5. Nicco Montano
It’s controversial, considering that Montano has missed weight so often and was stripped of the title, but let’s not forget Montano won 4 fights in 2017. I’m just not sure she’s a real 125er.
6. Sijara Eubanks
Eubanks is a trash talker and a winner of five fights in a row. I’m looking for the young fighter to take a top 5 contender on sometime before summer.
7. Joanne Calderwood
Off an impressive win over Ariane Lipski at UFC Brooklyn, the veteran Muay Thai fighter looks to get back in the top 5. Maybe against Eubanks?
8. Alexis Davis
A winner of 3 out of her last 5 fights with some impressive names on her resume, Davis is going to have to win a lot more to not be overtaken by some good young talent at the bottom half of the division.
9. Andrea Lee
Five wins in a row will get you in the top ten. My expectation is Lee will not be this low in the rankings for long.
10. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane
The only Bellator representative has won all nine of her professional fights, including four in a row by submission. Macfarlane is the best young fighter to hit the scene since the Champion, Shevchenko.
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