Carla Esparza has a background as a mixed martial artist. She is currently the Ultimate Fighting Championship strawweight champion. She is currently UFC strawweight champion. This is her second defense of her title, having lost her title against Cyborg at Invicta FC6: Coenen III (2013).
Carla Esparza works as a mixed-martial artist
Carla Esparza is an American mixed martial artist. She competes as a women's fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She is currently UFC Women's Strawweight Champion.
After signing with Invicta FC, Esparza rose to fame for the first time in 2012. Invicta FC 2, 2012, saw Sarah Schneider be defeated by Esparza. Esparza attacked Schneider immediately with a heelhook, then attacked her. She briefly attempted to apply a rear naked choke, but she was unable to control her opponent.
She is currently UFC strawweight champion
Carla Esparza has been a professional fighter since 2010. She is the UFC strawweight champion and first Invicta FC champ. She is currently ranked fourth in the UFC women’s straighweight rankings, as at January 2021. After winning the Ultimate Fighter 20 women’s strawweight tournament, Esparza made her UFC debut.
Carla Esparza's record is not perfect, as she has lost to Jessica Andrade, Claudia Gadelha, and Randa Markos. She has also been in close fights against Jessica Andrade, Weili Zi, and Marina Rodriguez. Given her five-fight winning streak, this could be a red flag.
She lost her first title defense at Invicta FC 6: Cyborg vs. Coenen II (2013)
Cyborg holds the upper hand. Coenen is a determined and aggressive fighter. Although both fighters used leg kicks in the opening round, Coenen could not stop Cyborg's relentless attack. Cyborg scored a second round takedown and landed numerous punches. While Coenen was attempting to escape, the "Cyborg" was able to land a few power punches to finish the round.
Cyborg is expected to defend her featherweight title against Coenen. The Strikeforce featherweight champ won their first TKO bout. Coenen enters the fight with a winning streak of two fights. The winner will take on either Ayako or Carla Hamasaki.
In 2007, she sustained nerve damage.
Carla Esparza is able to return from nerve damage that she sustained in 2007 despite her injuries. Rose Namajunas, who was Rose's opponent in the UFC strawweight division, defeated Esparza. In November, she is expected to defend her title against former champ Zhang Weili. Recently, she shared an update via social media on her fight camp.
Esparza was injured in the accident and went to the hospital. Her hospital bill was over $30,000, but she committed to fight. The following year, she fought Maya Hamasaki in Invicta FC 7. Claudia Gadelha was her next opponent, but Gadelha pulled out due to stomach disease.
She won two title bouts against Rose Namajunas
Rose Namajunas & Carla Esparza, both former women's lightweight champions, have faced each in two title fights. Namajunas was awarded the title in April and it was retained in November. The fight was close all the way, but neither fighter scored a knockout. Esparza was awarded the official scorecard of 48-47.
Esparza was 3-3 for 29 months before this title fight. But, her victory over Virna Januarydiroba in April 2019 set up a five-fight win streak. She then beat Yan Xiaonan during a COVID/quiet UFC APEX Las Vegas fight, finishing in just eight minutes. In June 2019, she defended her title again by knockout in the first round.