As women’s kickboxing continues to expand its footprint on a truly global scale through major promotions such as K-1, RISE, ONE Championship, and others, elite fighters around the world are constantly jockeying for position. In the competitive martial arts landscape, athletes strive to capture the attention of both fans and media members alike to secure their legacy in the rankings. To capture this shifting dynamic, Combat Press has officially rolled out its inaugural divisional women’s kickboxing rankings, providing a comprehensive and monthly snapshot of the sport across weight classes ranging from openweight down to atomweight, alongside a closely watched pound-for-pound top ten.
Because these divisions represent the very first installment of the Combat Press women’s kickboxing rankings, there are no previous divisional positions to look back on, with the exception of the pound-for-pound category, which reflects significant recent movement.
Openweight (Above 59 Kilograms)
Topping the inaugural openweight rankings is Marieke Calis. The Dutch standout cemented her elite status when she captured the prestigious Enfusion 70-kilogram championship in September 2024. She further bolstered her resume in October by securing a dominant unanimous-decision victory over Beyza Cetinkaya.
Following closely behind Calis at the No. 2 spot is Karmela Makelja. Makelja earned her high ranking on the strength of capturing and successfully defending the Arena Golden Fight 60-kilogram championship. Rounding out the rest of the openweight top five are Aurore Llorens at third, Andreea Cebuc at fourth, and Ibtissam Kassrioui holding down the fifth position.
Bantamweight (59 Kilograms)
Moving down to the bantamweight division, Débora Évora leads the inaugural rankings following an exceptionally impressive and active stretch of international competition. The Portuguese standout put the global kickboxing world on notice in June 2025 when she secured a stunning knockout victory over Martine Michieletto to capture the ISKA K-1 world featherweight championship. Évora has maintained her momentum since that crowning achievement, adding high-profile victories over Miranda Zondervan, Lara Fernandez, and Dorcas Ollita.
Taking the second position in the bantamweight division is Stella Hemetsberger. Hemetsberger earned her spot following a hard-fought split-decision victory over Jackie Buntan in February, a triumph that saw her capture the coveted ONE women’s strawweight kickboxing championship.
Nina van Dalum follows right behind at No. 3, backed by a strong championship resume built under the Enfusion and Fight Night One banners. Jackie Buntan enters the rankings at No. 4, a placement earned through her notable championship victory over Anissa Meksen, as well as her fiercely competitive title loss to Hemetsberger. Rounding out the upper tier of the weight class, Sarah Moussadak claims the sixth position, heavily aided by a crucial head-to-head victory over van Dalum in February 2025.
Flyweight (52 Kilograms)
In the flyweight division, Saho Yoshino commands the top position in the inaugural rankings. Her placement is a direct result of her stellar K-1 championship accomplishments and a consistent track record of victories against elite international opposition.
Tessa de Kom sits comfortably at No. 2. The Dutch champion added to her glowing credentials by successfully defending her RISE QUEEN flyweight title against YAYA Weerasakreck at RISE 202 in October. In that high-stakes 52-kilogram title contest, de Kom secured a definitive fourth-round knockout victory, marking her third successful defense of the championship.
Former K-1 champion Antonia Prifti takes the No. 3 spot in the flyweight division. She is followed by Japanese standout Kana Morimoto at fourth and Myanmar’s Vero Nika at fifth. Sofia Tsolakidou enters the rankings at sixth, buoyed by her championship accomplishments under the Krush banner, while Kyara van der Klooster rounds out the top eight following her impressive success in Enfusion’s 54-kilogram weight division.
Strawweight (50 Kilograms)
The strawweight division features Phayahong Banchamek seizing the top position in the inaugural rankings. Banchamek holds a narrow lead over Japanese standout Mei Miyamoto, who sits right behind her. Both fighters made significant waves by breaking into the Combat Press women’s pound-for-pound rankings in November.
Yun Toshima claims the No. 3 spot in the strawweight division after delivering a commanding unanimous-decision victory over Ayuna in October. The remainder of the top five is rounded out by Mari in the fourth position and Alessia Muroni at fifth.
Atomweight (47.5 Kilograms)
At the lighter end of the spectrum, Aki Suematsu leads the inaugural atomweight rankings. The 20th-century-born competitor has rapidly emerged as one of Japan’s most promising young kickboxers, highlighted by reported K-1 championship success operating at the 45-kilogram limit.
Former K-1 and Krush champion Kira Matsutani follows at No. 2, while international contender Veronica Rodriguez secures the third position. Koto Hiraoka enters the rankings at fourth following her championship success at 46 kilograms under the KNOCK OUT banner in September, with Haruka Shimada rounding out the top five.
Pound-for-Pound Shakeup and Recent Departures
While the divisional rankings establish a fresh baseline for the sport, the pound-for-pound list has undergone a dramatic transformation driven by retirements, inactivity, and recent bouts. Most notably, former No. 2-ranked Koyuki Miyazaki has officially retired from active competition and has been removed from the rankings due to inactivity.
Additionally, top-ranked Phetjeeja Or.Meekun and No. 9-ranked Jackie Buntan have both been removed from the active lists as they have not secured a victory in a professional kickboxing bout in over 18 months. These high-profile departures have forced a reshuffling across the board, with fighters below them moving up to fill the vacant gaps.
An exception to the standard upward shift is former No. 4 Martine Michieletto, who drops to the No. 7 position. Michieletto has remained inactive since June 2025, when she suffered her defeat against Débora Évora.
To help round out the revamped pound-for-pound top ten, Phayahong Banchamek, Mei Miyamoto, and 20-year-old standout Aki Suematsu step into the eighth, ninth, and tenth spots, respectively. Meanwhile, fighters like Tessa de Kom continue to solidify their stature within the pound-for-pound hierarchy, maintaining a strong presence following her dominant fourth-round knee knockout of YAYA Weerasakreck at RISE 202 in Tokyo to retain the RISE QUEEN flyweight championship and anchor her position at No. 4.
