As of 2026, the depth of talent in British women's MMA is stronger than ever before. Over the years, our nation has slowly but surely produced a slew of amazing British female fighters, many of whom have landed major titles and headlined significant cards during their careers in the ring.
From young fighters like Dakota Ditcheva who surged through international global recognition with a championship pedigree and unbeaten run1, to famous legends from years gone by like Molly McCann and Joanne Wood - the story of British women in MMA has become one of exciting growth rather than occasional flashes of success. In this article, we'll take a magnifying glass to the UK's best female fighters, looking at their overall career achievements and why you should keep a close eye on them.
Fighter
Division
Primary Promotion (Jan 2026)
Status / Notable Achievement
Dakota Ditcheva
Flyweight
Professional Fighters League (PFL)
2024 PFL Women’s Flyweight Champion; Undefeated professional record
Leah McCourt
Featherweight
PFL (formerly Bellator MMA)
Former Bellator featherweight contender; International competitor
Cory McKenna
Strawweight
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Active UFC strawweight; Youngest British female to win on UFC debut
Shanelle Dyer
Bantamweight
UK Regional Promotions
Highly ranked UK & Ireland women’s pound-for-pound competitor
Sara Collins
Bantamweight
PFL Europe
Undefeated prospect with strong grappling base
Summer Onley
Flyweight
UK Regional Promotions
Undefeated rising prospect with multiple stoppage victories
Top British Female MMA Fighters Currently Competing 🥊
I’ve said it from the start — I believe I’m the best flyweight in the world
Dakota Ditcheva
Dakota Ditcheva
Dakota Ditcheva
Age:
27
Division/Weight Class:
Flyweight (125 lb / 56 kg)
Career Highlights:
After transitioning from a decorated kickboxing and Muay Thai background, she quickly established herself as a serious force in the PFL, winning the inaugural 2023 PFL Europe Women’s Flyweight Championship and a breakout run in the 2024 PFL women’s flyweight season, ultimately claiming the 2024 PFL Women’s Flyweight World Championship and the associated $1 million prize.
Fighting Style:
Since joining the MMA, most of Ditcheva's wins have come as a result of a knockout or technical knockout, with only a small number going the distance. Her background in Muay Thai and kickboxing is clear in the way she fights with her bread-and-butter fighting style, consisting of sharp, straight punches, strong body work, and clean combinations.
Leah McCourt
Leah McCourt
Age:
33
Division/Weight Class:
Featherweight (145lb)
Career Highlights:
Leah McCourt is a Northern Irish professional mixed martial artist competing in the women’s featherweight division, most notably under the Bellator MMA banner before it was absorbed into the PFL. McCourt made history as the first woman in Europe to headline a major MMA fight card, a milestone that elevated her profile both at home and abroad. She's also competed against top names in the division, including a recent submission win over Sara Collins in London.
Fighting Style:
McCourt is a grappling-oriented featherweight. She combines judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu fundamentals with MMA striking which allows her to control opponents in clinch and ground situations and work toward submissions.
Cory McKenna
Cory McKenna
Age:
27
Division/Weight Class:
Strawweight (115 lb)
Career Highlights:
Cory McKenna is one of the more established British names at strawweight. The Welsh fighter made her way to the Ultimate Fighting Championship at a young age and picked up wins inside the Octagon - showing everyone she had the ability to compete at that level rather than simply make up the numbers. Before reaching the UFC, she'd already put together a strong record on the UK circuit which earned her the step up.
Fighting Style:
Overall, McKenna is a well-rounded strawweight. She’s comfortable striking but often looks to mix in grappling as well, as this allows her to use control and positional awareness to manage the pace of a fight. As a whole, her game is based more on balance and decision-making instead of flashy or explosive finishes.
Shanelle Dyer
Shanelle Dyer
Age:
29
Division/Weight Class:
Bantamweight (135 lb)
Career Highlights:
Shanelle Dyer has worked her way into the spotlight in recent years, compiling a 6–1 record against experienced opposition. In September 2025, she competed on Dana White’s Contender Series and, despite losing, managed to earn a UFC contract due to her dazzling performance.
Fighting Style:
Dyer tends to fight aggressively and with forward movement. Her striking is based around volume rather than power alone, and she uses pressure to keep opponents working. On the ground, she also shows a willingness to engage in scrambles and follow-up takedowns with offensive attempts rather than just defensive control.
Sara Collins
Sara Collins
Age:
35
Division/Weight Class:
Featherweight (145 lb)
Career Highlights:
Sara Collins made her name during her run in Bellator, picking up a series of wins at featherweight that pushed her into contender territory. From there, submitting Leah McCourt in London moved her into the title picture and set up a shot at the PFL featherweight belt in late 2025. However, she fell short against Cris Cyborg.
Fighting Style:
Collins brings a grappling-first approach to her fights. She has a strong judo base that serves her well in clinch work and helps her secure control once the fight hits the mat. She looks to use that foundation to work for finishes rather than just holding position, and several of her wins have come by way of submission.
Summer Onley
Summer Onley
Age:
24 - 26 (age not clearly reported)
Division/Weight Class:
Bantamweight (135 lb)
Career Highlights:
While not as well known as some of the names on this list, Summer Onley has quietly put together an unbeaten professional record on the UK circuit (5–0) and currently holds the FCC Bantamweight Championship. Her performances have also placed her among the higher-ranked female fighters in the UK & Ireland regional standings. As a fan, she's definitely one to watch.
Fighting Style:
Onley is primarily a striker with most of her wins coming by knockout or technical knockout. She uses sharp striking and aggressive combinations to overwhelm opponents, which has helped her build momentum quickly in the bantamweight ranks.
British Female MMA Legends 🏆
I’m here to represent my city and my country every single time I step in there
Molly McCann
Now we've talked about the best current female MMA fighters in the UK, it's time to turn the clock back and look at some of the legends who inspired and paved the way for our current crop of rising talent. Keep reading below.
Molly McCann
Molly McCann
Age:
35
Division/Weight Class:
Flyweight (125 lb), later Strawweight (115 lb)
Career Highlights:
Molly McCann competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship from 2018 until her retirement in 2025. Fighting primarily at flyweight before dropping to strawweight later in her career, she recorded multiple wins inside the Octagon and became one of the most recognisable British female fighters of her generation.
Fighting Style:
McCann was an aggressive and pressure-based fighter. She relied on forward movement, close-range boxing, and volume striking rather than long-range kickboxing. Additionally, she was also durable and arguably most effective when she could turn fights into scrappy exchanges against the fence
Legacy:
McCann was one of the first British women to properly break into the mainstream side of MMA, especially during the run of UFC London events, where she became a regular feature.
beenhere
Who Is the Best British Female MMA Fighter of All Time?
A common question for MMA fans is who the best female MMA fighter ever is. However, that’s a tough one to answer. In terms of titles and overall success, Dakota Ditcheva probably has the strongest case so far because of her world championship win in the PFL and performance in other MMA events. However, if overall influence in the sport and longevity matter more, then Molly McCann and Joanne Wood both have a strong case as well.
Joanne Wood
Joanne Wood
Age:
40
Division/Weight Class:
Flyweight (125 lb)
Career Highlights:
Joanne Wood (formerly named Joanne Calderwood) is one of the earliest British women to become a successful mixed martial arts fighter. Starting her career way back in 2012 after a highly successful Muay Thai run, she went on to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship from 2014 through 2024. During her long career, she compiled a 17–8–0 record, including big wins over Luana Carolina and Maryna Moroz at UFC events in 2023 and 2024.
Fighting Style:
Wood was first and foremost a striker. Her Muay Thai background was clear in her approach - she liked to work at range, throw in combinations, and keep a consistent pace across three rounds.
Legacy:
Much like McCann, Wood played an important role in raising the profile of British women in the UFC. She was competing at a time when there were very few British female fighters at that level. There's no doubt that many of the UK's fighters look at her career as inspiration for their own.
How Women's MMA Took Off in Britain 📈
Photo by Annushka Ahuja
While the women's MMA events are now very popular with both female fans, this wasn't the case in the past. In the early 2010's, opportunities were limited, and most female fighters competed on smaller domestic cards with hardly any mainstream coverage.
What's more, major promotions hadn't fully invested in women's divisions either, forcing our British fighters to look abroad for bigger opportunities.
📅 Timeline: The Rise of Women’s MMA in Britain
Thankfully, just like Mixed Martial Arts as a whole, the women's side continues to gain popularity year after year and shows no signs of stopping. Let's explore how the sport developed from its humble beginnings in the timeline featured below.
2013
First British Woman in the UFC
Rosi Sexton competes in the UFC, becoming the first British woman to fight in the promotion.
2014–2018
British Representation Expands
Joanne Wood establishes herself in the UFC’s strawweight and later flyweight divisions, giving Britain consistent representation at the world level.
2018
Molly McCann Signs with the UFC
McCann becomes one of the first English women on the UFC roster and begins appearing regularly on UK cards.
2022
UFC London Momentum
McCann’s spinning elbow knockout at UFC London becomes one of the most replayed finishes in British MMA history, significantly increasing visibility for women’s MMA in the UK.
2023
PFL Europe Launches
The introduction of PFL Europe creates additional high-level opportunities for British female fighters on home soil.
2024
Dakota Ditcheva Wins PFL World Title
Ditcheva captures the PFL Women’s Flyweight Championship, becoming one of the most successful British female fighters in the sport’s history.
Who Are The Next Wave of Talented Fighters? 💪
Photo by Jack Atkinson
As opportunities have increased, the depth of talent coming through the domestic scene has too, giving MMA fans real reason to be excited about what’s next. Below are some of the up-and-coming British female MMA fighters who are starting to make noise and could one day secure a spot at the top level.
Fighter
Division
Current Status
Paulina Wiśniewska
Bantamweight
Unbeaten prospect active on the UK circuit, ranked highly in UK & Ireland regional pound-for-pound listings.
Mim Grubb
Flyweight
Undefeated regional fighter with multiple stoppage wins and consistent activity.
Gemma Auld
Bantamweight / Featherweight
Developing prospect competing on the domestic scene and steadily adding professional experience.
Hayley Valentine
Bantamweight
Active competitor ranked within UK & Ireland regional standings, mixing finishes and decision wins.
Women’s MMA began gaining real traction in Britain during the late 2010s and early 2020s. Fighters such as Joanne Wood and Molly McCann helped raise the sport’s profile by competing regularly in the UFC, while events like UFC London brought large audiences and increased media attention to women’s fights in the UK.
Which MMA promotions do British female fighters compete in?
British female MMA fighters compete across a range of organisations depending on their level of experience and ranking. Established fighters often compete in major promotions such as the UFC and the Professional Fighters League (PFL), while others develop their careers in organisations like PFL Europe, Cage Warriors, and other regional UK promotions before moving onto the international stage.
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