She’s Next – WMMA Weekly Preview
Each week, I’ll highlight the female prospects making noise on the regional scene. The goal is simple : to spotlight rising female talents before they break onto the big stage.
Sonam Zomba (7-1) – Strawweight – Bidang Fighting Championship 8
Normally, I wouldn’t take the time to highlight a fighter from India, as the level of MMA there remains underdeveloped. However, 27-year-old Sonam Zomba clearly stands out as the best female fighter in India today. Born on October 12, 1998, Zomba competes in the strawweight division and trains out of Bidang MMA & Fitness Gym. She holds a professional record of 7-1, with four victories coming by KO/TKO and three by decision.
She made a name for herself in August 2025, when she captured the MFN Strawweight Title at Matrix Fight Night 17 with a decision win. Zomba has now strung together seven consecutive victories, remaining unbeaten since losing her professional debut. Her level of opposition has mostly been low, but at 5-0, she faced her toughest challenge in Anna Safeeva, a test she passed convincingly. This Thursday, she returns against another entry-level opponent, Nepalese debutant Sushmita Thapa (0-0), which should set up another likely finish for Zomba.
Considering the UFC’s strong interest in expanding into the Indian market and the continued existence of the Road to UFC series next year, Zomba is definitely a name to keep an eye on. She has a functional ground game with capable grappling, combined with a serviceable striking base. Does she have elite potential? Not particularly. But could she reach the UFC? In today’s landscape, absolutely.
Mim Grubb (2-0) – Strawweight – Brave CF 100
Mim Grubb competes in the strawweight division and currently holds a professional MMA record of 2-0. Her wins include one by submission and one by unanimous decision. Grubb made a strong impression early, defeating two highly regarded prospects, Rhi Rhi Hudson (via first-round submission) and Songül Karatorak (via decision), both times as the underdog. Training out of England, she’s quickly establishing herself on the regional European scene and is already considered one of the top emerging female fighters from the British Isles.
Although her pro experience remains limited, Grubb has shown excellent composure, pace, and grit inside the cage. She maintains a high tempo, constantly pressuring opponents and forcing them onto the back foot. Her striking carries real pop, and she demonstrated solid power in her last fight, repeatedly hurting her opponent while threatening submissions on the mat. Her next bout comes against fellow undefeated prospect Fabiola Nascimento at Brave CF 100, a major opportunity to add a meaningful name to her growing résumé.
Fabiola Nascimento (3-0) – Strawweight – Brave CF 100
Fabiola Nascimento (born December 15, 1994) is a Brazilian strawweight fighter representing Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Standing 5′4″, she holds a professional record of 3-0, with two of her wins coming inside the distance. She claimed the Shooto Brasil Strawweight Title in March 2025 at Shooto Brasil 128, defeating fellow IMMAF veteran Ana Vitória by fourth-round TKO.
Nascimento also boasts an impressive 10-1 amateur record, with multiple IMMAF medals to her name. Her only loss coming against Faine Mesquita, who will also appear later in this report. Despite being known for her submission skills, Nascimento has also competed in kickboxing, giving her a well-rounded base. She brings high-level cardio and finishing ability, with multiple fourth-round stoppages already on her record. At 30 years old, it’s time for her to start stacking quality wins and proving she belongs among the elite. A victory over rising English prospect Mim Grubb would be a major step toward that goal and could push her closer to a call from one of the sport’s biggest promotions.
Shannon Clark (6-1), Beatriz Consuli (6-0) and Ramana Toscanelli (3-0) – LFA 221
I won’t go into too much detail about the next three fighters, since my colleagues Pat and Shawn already covered them in their LFA 221 breakdown (link: https://mmaprospectvault.com/lfa-221-full-card-breakdown) Still, I wanted to share a few thoughts about these women.
Let’s start with Shannon Clark, my fellow Canadian and the reigning LFA Strawweight Champion. After an unsuccessful appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series, Clark returned to defend her title against Cheyanne Bowers, winning by controversial split decision. She now makes another title defense this Friday against the toughest opponent of her career. Clark has shown a questionable chin and inconsistent motivation since her DWCS setback. The key question is which version of Shannon Clark will we see this week? Hopefully the best one, because standing across from her will be Bea Consuli (6-0).
Simply put, Beatriz Consuli is, in my opinion, the second-best female prospect outside the UFC, behind only Aieza Bertolso. Riding a 17-fight winning streak dating back to her amateur IMMAF days, Consuli has stacked up quality victories over top regional names, including new UFC signee Carol Foro and Thaiany Lopes. In her last fight, she earned her first professional finish by stopping Naiane Silva. Clark’s experience could pose some challenges, but I believe Consuli outmatches her in every major aspect of MMA and should emerge victorious.
Also on the card is Ramana Toscanelli (5-0), a lesser-known but intriguing Brazilian prospect quietly separating herself in the bantamweight division, a weight class currently thin in the UFC. Toscanelli’s best weapon is her ground game, backed by excellent BJJ fundamentals. While her opposition level has been modest, the skill foundation is clearly there. She faces Milena Galvão (3-0) this weekend and should be heavily favored to win.
Joy Pendell (5-2) and Zurina Turrey (5-1) – Featherweight – A1 Combat 32
Another fight I won’t spend too much time on, this time because it takes place at 145 pounds. Champion Joy Pendell, now 35, is no longer considered a prospect. This will be a rematch of their 2024 bout under the Invicta FC banner, where Zurina Turrey earned a unanimous decision victory.
Since then, Pendell has picked up two submission wins. With Invicta currently quiet, she returns to A1 Combat, where she’s been the featherweight champion since September 2024. As for Turrey, this will be her first fight since their previous meeting. I had high hopes for her when I first scouted her in 2023, back when she competed at 135 pounds and looked like a legitimate UFC-level prospect. She later moved to featherweight, going 1-1 under the RUF banner before joining Invicta. Now she’ll make her A1 debut this weekend.
Both Pendell and Turrey rank among the top names in this small but competitive division and consistently deliver action-packed fights.
Farida Abdueva (5-1) – Strawweight – Octagon 81
Farida Abdueva is a rising strawweight prospect from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Born on May 15, 2004, she stands 5’4’’ and holds a professional record of 5 wins and 1 loss.
Abdueva began her career in 2021 and has since emerged as one of Central Asia’s brightest young talents. She’s displayed strong striking ability with multiple TKO finishes, including an impressive stoppage of Zeynab Jafari in 2024. In April 2025, she went five rounds in a hard-fought split-decision victory over elite prospect Ayan Tursyn, showcasing excellent endurance and composure. Known for her aggression and Muay Thai-based stand-up, Abdueva is still early in her development. Her only loss came by submission, highlighting an area for growth, but her steady evolution at just 21 years old makes her a name to watch. She faces Silvania Monteiro (11-4) this weekend, a 38-year-old Brazilian veteran making her Central Asian debut, in what should be a strong test of her readiness for the next level, but a winnable fight nonetheless.
Other notable women in action
- ONE Friday Fights 132: Former grappler Norika Ryu (4-0) continues her run in ONE Championship against German Niebel Adele (1-0) in the flyweight division.
- Brave CF 100 : Indian veteran Aarti Khatri (5-1) looks to rebound from her first career loss against Arofat Toirova (1-0) of Uzbekistan.
- Hexagone MMA 36 : The French promotion returns to Hungary, featuring former pro boxer Timea Belik (2-0) vs IMMAF veteran Lina Hammouche (0-0) in a flyweight bout.
- A1 Combat 32 : ATT trainee and Bellator veteran Aysia Cortez (1-1) meets Katarina Legorreta (2-1) on the main card in California.
- Beatdown Promotion 12 : Former IMMAF standout Faine Mesquita (4-0) faces Lisa Kyriacou (7-3) for the flyweight title. Both are veterans, though unlikely UFC-bound due to age.
- Future MMA 16 : Only 18 years old, Maria Clara Pereira (3-0) faces Fabrizia Ketlinn (2-2). Pereira’s kickboxing background and youth make her an intriguing long-term prospect.