Who Will Win These Three Huge Upcoming Women's Fights?

The realm of women's combat sports has never been more electrifying. Inside the Octagon, names such as Amanda Nunes, Valentina Shevchenko, and Alexa Grasso have taken female MMA to unseen heights, while in the squared circle, the likes of Claressa Shields and Katie Taylor continue to raise the bar higher than anyone could have ever imagined.

Throughout the opening part of the current year, there have been massive victories for Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang, and during the second half of the year, more blockbuster fights are poised and ready to thrill. Here are the three biggest of them, and/or picks to secure victories and rubber stamp their legacies.

Amanda Lemos vs. Virna Jandiroba

The aforementioned Weili Zhang is the current undisputed queen in the UFC's women's strawweight division. She successfully defended her championship with a unanimous decision victory over Chinese compatriot Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300, and now, attention has turned towards finding her next challenger. Amanda Lemos is the prime candidate to secure that spot and in turn, has a shot at redemption for her defeat against the current champ last August.

However, for her to rubber stamp her number one contender status, she must find a way to defeat fellow Brazin Virna Jandiroba on July 21st. Lemos has built her reputation on her striking ability and knockout power. She is a constant threat on her feet with a record that includes multiple stoppages against some big names such as Michelle Waterson and Marina Rodriguez, as well as a recent decision victory against Mackenzie Dern.

Jandiroba meanwhile is no stranger to a stoppage herself. She is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and boasts an impressive array of submission victories with names such as Loopy Godinez and Angela Hill already on her resume.

Her wrestling and grappling skills are formidable, often overwhelming opponents who lack a strong ground defense. While her striking has improved, she can control the fight on the mat which could be decisive. Popular UFC Odds make the current number here ranked Lemos a somewhat surprising +115 underdog, with her number five ranked opponent the current -140 betting favorite. However, the clash is the very definition of a pick 'em fight, and it could go either way.

Claressa Shields vs. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse

Claressa Shields is the reigning undisputed middleweight champion. She has beaten a who's who of stars inside the squared circle, most recently outpointing Maricela Cornejo last June to retain her straps.

She has recently transitioned into MMA following a mediocre run back in 2021 where she picked up one win and one defeat fighting in the PFL. Back in February, she returned to the cage with a razor-thin split decision victory against unheralded Kelsey DeSantis but this July, she turns her attention back to boxing.

On July 27th, Shields will embark on perhaps her biggest test yet as she looks to emulate Roy Jones Jr. by stepping up four weight classes to fight for the world heavyweight championship against Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse. The 28-year-old Canadian is currently the WBC heavyweight queen, a strap she picked up with a split decision victory against Abril Argentina Vidal back in March, and now she is set for a whopping payday against the megastar Shields.

Despite their weight difference, the current middleweight champ said, "I just don’t believe that there is a woman who’s on this earth that can beat me,” at the promotional press conference promoting the upcoming fight a couple of weeks ago. She will soon find out whether she was right. The bookies certainly believe her fighting talk however, making Shields a huge -2500 betting favorite, and it will be interesting to see whether she can live up to the billing.

Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano

In what promises to be one of the biggest rematches in women's boxing history, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano will square off once again. Their first bout was a thrilling encounter, with the Irish sensation edging out a split-decision victory over her Puerto Rican opponent in an event that the prestigious Ring Magazine heralded as the Event of the Year. Now, both fighters are eager to settle the score in this highly anticipated sequel, determining a definite winner once and for all.

Taylor is an Olympic gold medalist and the reigning undisputed super-lightweight champion and she is known for her technical precision, speed, and relentless pace. Her ability to adapt mid-fight and execute a disciplined game plan has made her one of the best pound-for-pound female boxers. However, with her now being a ripe 38-year-old, age is no longer on her side.

Serrano is a multi-division champion in her own right and brings plenty of power and aggression to the ring. With knockout wins across seven weight classes, she is one of the most dangerous punchers in women's boxing. Her relentless pressure and punching power will be key factors in the rematch, as will the fact that her opponent is three years her senior.