Carla Esparza News
Carla Esparza wants the next title shot against Weili Zhang: "I am ready for that fight"
Adam Martin - August 5, 2020
Former UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza admitted that she’s interested in fighting current champ Weili Zhang for the belt. Esparza is coming off of four straight wins over Marina Rodriguez, Michelle Waterson, Alexa Grasso, and Virna Jandiroba. She is 8-4 overall in the UFC and is a former TUF winner and was the first-ever UFC women’s strawweight champion. But since losing her belt to Joanna Jedrzejczyk back in 2015, Esparza has essentially acted as a gatekeeper at 115lbs. After reeling off four straight wins, “The Cookie Monster” now wants that to change.
Carla Esparza tells Claudia Gadelha to "leave the grease at home" for potential rematch
Adam Martin - May 17, 2020
UFC women’s strawweight contender Carla Esparza told Claudia Gadelha to “leave the grease at home” for a potential rematch between the two rivals. Esparza and Gadelha previously fought at UFC 225 in June 2018, with Gadelha winning a tight split decision in a fight that many believe Esparza deserved to win. Following the fight, Esparza accused Gadelha of greasing, with the Brazilian firing back at the American, saying that she was just making excuses for why she lost the fight.
Michelle Waterson issues statement after controversial loss to Carla Esparza
Tom Taylor - May 12, 2020
Former Invicta atomweight champion Michelle Waterson has issued a statement after her controversial decision loss to former UFC strawweight champ Carla Esparza at UFC 249. Waterson and Esparza battled for 15 minutes on the UFC 249 undercard. While Esparza was awarded a decision win, many fans felt the judges got the verdict wrong.
Michelle Waterson plans on knocking out Carla Esparza to put her in talks to fight for belt
Cole Shelton - May 5, 2020
Michelle Waterson believes her UFC 249 fight against former champion Carla Esparza has title implications on the line. Waterson will make her return to the Octagon after a decision loss to Joanna Jedrzejczyk back at UFC Tampa last October. She says she learned a lot about herself in that fight and says it proves she belongs at the top.
Carla Esparza says fans showered her with beer at UFC Mexico City
Adam D Martin - September 22, 2019
UFC women’s strawweight Carla Esparza says that fans showered her with beer following her majority decision win over Alexa Grasso at UFC Mexico City. MMAjunkie.com’s John Morgan tweeted out the unfortunate news after the event. Here’s what he said.
UFC Mexico City bonuses: Carla Esparza, Alexa Grasso win "Fight of the Night"
Adam D Martin - September 22, 2019
The UFC has announced the post-fight bonus award winners for the Mexico City card, and a pair of women’s strawweights won “Fight of the Night.” The UFC announced after the event that Carla Esparza and Alexa Grasso won $50,000 each for “Fight of the Night” for their back-and-forth co-main event fight, which Esparza ended up winning by majority decision. Here’s what the UFC said.
Pros react to Carla Esparza defeating Alexa Grasso at UFC Mexico
Natasha Hooper - September 22, 2019
A key women’s strawweight bout featuring former division champion Carla Esparza taking on Alexa Grasso co-headlined tonight’s UFC Mexico event. Esparza (14-6) entered the event looking to build off the momentum of her unanimous decision victory over Virna Jandiroba from back in April.
UFC Mexico Results: Carla Esparza defeats Alexa Grasso (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - September 21, 2019
A key women’s strawweight bout featuring former division champion Carla Esparza taking on Alexa Grasso co-headlines tonight’s UFC Mexico event. Esparza (14-6) will be looking to build off the momentum of her unanimous decision victory over Virna Jandiroba from back in April.
Carla Esparza calls for UFC to create atomweight division, 'it needs to be brought in!'
Drake Riggs - October 17, 2018
The UFC is currently home to 12 different weight classes. Four of which belong to the female competitors. That’s also four more than was ever expected 10 years ago. In the UFC, the lowest division for the men is 125-pounds with the flyweight division. For the women, it’s 115-pounds with strawweight. There is a men’s strawweight division outside of the UFC but it’s almost exclusively seen in Asia and unlikely to ever end up in the UFC.
UFC 228 Results: Tatiana Suarez dominates Carla Esparza (VIDEO)
Chris Taylor - September 8, 2018
A key women’s strawweight contest served as the featured bout of tonight’s UFC 228 prelims as former division champion Carla Esparza took on surging contender Tatiana Suarez. Carla Esparza enters tonight’s fight with Suarez on the heels of a controversial split-decision loss to Claudia Gadelha which took place at June’s UFC 225 event in Chicago.
Report | Carla Esparza to take on Tatiana Suarez at UFC 228
Drake Riggs - July 17, 2018
UFC 228 is pretty behind on getting itself put together. But in the coming weeks we’ll surely get some more clarity and today we start with the 115ers. Already in the works for the UFC’s return to Dallas, Texas is a strawweight battle between two of the division’s very best in Jessica Andrade and Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
Claudia Gadelha fires back at Carla Esparza after greasing allegations
Tom Taylor - June 13, 2018
Last weekend, on the undercard of the stacked UFC 225, former strawweight champion Carla Esparza gave up a close decision to perennial strawweight contender Claudia Gadelha. Shortly thereafter, she accused Gadelha of cheating, sharing her belief that the Brazilian was greasing on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “She cheated in the fight; she greased before the fight,” Esparza said. “I was considering saying something to the referee in between [rounds]. I was going to say, ‘She’s greasing! She’s greasing,’ but I didn’t really know how to go about it. … Even when I was trying to grab armbars during the fight my arms kept slipping down. She’s a cheater, but it doesn’t really surprise me. In my opinion, she’s been a pretty dirty fighter throughout, so it is what it is.”
UFC 225 Results: Claudia Gadelha defeats Carla Esparza (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - June 9, 2018
A pivitol women’s strawweight fight between former title challenger Claudia Gadelha and former division champion Carla Esparza took place during tonight’s UFC 225 prelims from Chicago. Claudia Gadelha entered tonight’s contest with a 15-3 record while her opponent Carla Esparza sported a record of 13-4 overall.
Carla Esparza on Claudia Gadelha: "if we didn’t have USADA in the picture, I’d call roid rage.”
Drake Riggs - February 22, 2018
The strawweight division’s oldest matchup is finally set to take place again. Former UFC and Invicta FC champion, Carla Esparza and former title challenger, Claudia Gadelha will get another chance at getting to hurt each other. The two are set to due battle at UFC 225 in Chicago, Illinois. But as history shows…this isn’t the first time we were supposed to see these former top 2 115-pounders clash. Going back to the early days of Invicta, Esparza and Gadelha were the clear two very best strawweights on the planet so it only made sense for them to square off for the world title. Which was Invicta’s plan. So they booked the two for Invicta FC 4 to crown their inaugural strawweight champion. Gadelha suffered a broken nose prior to the fight and was unable to compete thus bumping Bec Rawling into her place to fill in.
Claudia Gadelha Returns at UFC 225 to Take on a Former UFC Champion and Invicta Foe
Drake Riggs - February 14, 2018
One of the oldest matchups, if not the oldest matchup in the strawweight division’s history is set to take place and hopefully happen this time. The UFC announced on Wednesday that the perennial top five strawweight contender and former title challenger, Claudia Gadelha is expected to make her return at UFC 225 when she takes on the inaugural UFC champion and former Invicta FC champion, Carla Esparza. JUST ANNOUNCED: @ClaudiaGadelha_ takes on @CarlaEsparza1 in the Windy City at #UFC225❗️ pic.twitter.com/Z6AdLjnpwW
UFC 219 Results: Carla Esparza defeats Cynthia Calvillo (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - December 30, 2017
A key women’s strawweight scrap between surging contender Cynthia Calvillo and former champion Carla Esparza took place on the main card of tonight’s UFC 219 event in Las Vegas. Round one begins and Esparza rushes in and lands a nice right hand over the top. Both women are swinging wildly early on here. Both ladies connect with right hands. Esparza scores with a hard low kick and then circles out. Calvillo leaps in and scores with a double leg takedown. She immediately moves to half guard and begins working some short shots. Esparza is throwing more from her back at the moment but Cynthia is working on trying to advance her position. Esparza is able to get back to full guard and then throws up an armbar attempt. Calvillo could be in trouble here. Esparza cranks the hold but Cynthia moves and breaks free. Calvillo instantly passes to side control and begins working some elbows. Still, Esparza continues to land a lot of shots from her back. Calvillo moves to mount and then tries to take the back. Esparza scrambles and winds up in top position. She lands a couple of shots before the horn sounds to end round one.
Carla Esparza releases statement on controversial loss to Randa Markos
Tom Taylor - February 20, 2017
On Sunday night, the UFC returned to Halifax, Nova Scotia with UFC Fight Night 105. On the evening’s undercard, former strawweight queen Carla Esparza returned from a lengthy layoff against Canada’s own Randa Markos. Though Esparza succeeded on four takedown attempts, and threatened with a submission in the second round, the judges ultimately awarded her Canadian foe a controversial decision win.
Beef! Claudia Gadelha and Carla Esparza bash each other on social media
Tom Taylor - December 4, 2016
It’s no secret that former strawweight champion Carla Esparza and former strawweight title challenger Claudia Gadelha aren’t big fans of one another. Having been scheduled to fight to no avail several times in the past, the two talented fighters have plenty of unfinished business, and probably won’t stop beefing till they get their hands on each other in the cage. Their latest quarrel occurred on Instagram. This time around, Gadelha was the instigator, lambasting Esparza for trying to sell her motorcycle to cover her medical bills (though she may not actually have to do so).