The first UFC women’s flyweight title fight took place on December 1, 2017. In that bout, Nicco Montano faced Roxanne Modafferi following season 26 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Modafferi replaced Sijara Eubanks on weigh-in day after Eubanks spent some time in the hospital prior to the official weigh-in. Montano defeated Modafferi by decision to become the inaugural UFC women’s flyweight champion.
Montano never defended her title. The UFC stripped her of the belt in September 2018 after she was hospitalized during her weight cut for a matchup opposite Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 228.
Shevchenko, who dropped to flyweight after going 3-2 at bantamweight, won the vacant title with a decision win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk.