“The Cookie Monster” Carla Esparza is a 35 year old Female fighter from United States with a 19-7-0 pro MMA record. Esparza most recently fought Weili Zhang at UFC 281 on Saturday November 12, 2022. Carla Esparza lost to Weili Zhang by Submission at 1:05 of Round 2 in the Strawweight division.
Carla Esparza has 19 wins with a 32% finish rate, including 3 by knockout, 6 by submission, 13 by decision.
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Weight class | Org |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 19-6-0 | Weili Zhang |
SUB
R2 1:05
|
UFC 281 | 2022-11-12 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Win | 18-6-0 | Rose Namajunas |
DEC
R5 5:00
|
UFC 274 | 2022-05-07 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Win | 17-6-0 | Xiaonan Yan |
KO/TKO
R2 2:58
|
UFC Fight Night | 2021-05-22 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Win | 16-6-0 | Marina Rodriguez |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
UFC Fight Night | 2020-07-25 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Win | 15-6-0 | Michelle Waterson-Gomez |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
UFC 249 | 2020-05-09 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Win | 14-6-0 | Alexa Grasso |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
UFC on ESPN+ 17 | 2019-09-21 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Win | 13-6-0 | Virna Jandiroba |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
UFC on ESPN+ 8 | 2019-04-27 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Loss | 13-5-0 | Tatiana Suarez |
KO/TKO
R3 4:33
|
UFC 228 | 2018-09-08 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Loss | 13-4-0 | Cláudia Gadelha |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
UFC 225 | 2018-06-09 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Win | 12-4-0 | Cynthia Calvillo |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
UFC 219 | 2017-12-30 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Win | 11-4-0 | Maryna Moroz |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
UFC Fight Night 112 | 2017-06-25 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Loss | 11-3-0 | Randa Markos |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
UFC Fight Night 105 | 2017-02-19 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Win | 10-3-0 | Juliana Lima |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
UFC 197 | 2016-04-23 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Loss | 10-2-0 | Joanna Jędrzejczyk |
KO/TKO
R2 4:17
|
UFC 185 | 2015-03-14 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Win | 9-2-0 | Rose Namajunas |
SUB
R3 1:26
|
The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale | 2014-12-12 | Strawweight | UFC |
| Win | 9-2-0 | Jessica Penne |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 | 2014-08-14 | Strawweight | TUF |
| Win | 9-2-0 | Tecia Torres |
DEC
R2 5:00
|
The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 | 2014-08-06 | Flyweight | TUF |
| Win | 9-2-0 | Angela Hill |
SUB
R1 3:41
|
The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 | 2014-07-18 | Strawweight | TUF |
| Win | 8-2-0 | Bec Rawlings |
DEC
R5 5:00
|
Invicta FC 4 | 2013-01-05 | Strawweight | IFC |
| Win | 7-2-0 | Lynn Alvarez |
KO/TKO
R1 2:53
|
Invicta FC 3 | 2012-10-06 | Strawweight | IFC |
| Win | 6-2-0 | Sarah Schneider |
KO/TKO
R2 4:28
|
Invicta FC 2 | 2012-07-28 | Strawweight | IFC |
| Win | 5-2-0 | Felice Herrig |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
XFC 15 | 2011-12-02 | Strawweight | XFC |
| Loss | 5-1-0 | Jessica Aguilar |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
Bellator 46 | 2011-06-25 | Strawweight | BFC |
| Win | 4-1-0 | Yadira Anzaldua |
SUB
R1 0:53
|
Regional circuit | 2011-04-15 | ECSC | |
| Win | 3-1-0 | Nina Nunes |
DEC
R3 5:00
|
Regional circuit | 2010-12-10 | CB | |
| Loss | 3-0-0 | Megumi Fujii |
SUB
R2 0:57
|
Bellator 24 | 2010-08-12 | Strawweight | BFC |
| Win | 2-0-0 | Lacey Schuckman |
SUB
R2 2:37
|
Regional circuit | 2010-07-16 | NMEF | |
| Win | 1-0-0 | Karina Hallinan |
SUB
R2 2:16
|
Regional circuit | 2010-04-18 | LBFN | |
| Win | 0-0-0 | Cassie Trost |
SUB
R1 0:48
|
Regional circuit | 2010-02-19 | RITC |
Esparza made her professional debut against Cassie Trost on February 19, 2010, fighting on the regional circuit.
She made a winning start to her career, defeating Cassie Trost who carried a 0-0-0 professional MMA record into the fight.
Carla Esparza beat Cassie Trost by Submission at 0:48 of Round 1.
Esparza made her debut in the UFC against Rose Namajunas on December 12, 2014, fighting on the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale having compiled a 9-2-0 professional MMA record.
Carla Esparza beat Rose Namajunas by Submission at 1:26 of Round 3. Carla Esparza took home an extra bonus after being awarded with Performance of the Night.
Since her debut, Esparza has gone on to fight a total of 15 more times in the UFC. Her UFC record stands at 10-5-0.
Esparza won the UFC Vacant Strawweight Championship defeating Rose Namajunas on December 12, 2014 at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale.
This was Esparza's 1st UFC championship fight.
Carla Esparza beat Rose Namajunas by Submission at 1:26 of Round 3. Carla Esparza took home an extra bonus after being awarded with Performance of the Night.
Esparza lost her UFC Strawweight title to Joanna Jędrzejczyk on March 14, 2015 at UFC 185: Pettis vs. Dos Anjos.
The loss meant that Esparza had made no successful defences of the UFC strawweight title.
Carla Esparza lost to Joanna Jędrzejczyk by KO/TKO at 4:17 of Round 2.
Esparza defeated the previously unbeaten Virna Jandiroba on April 27, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 8: Jacare vs. Hermansson. Virna Jandiroba came into the fight with a 14-0-0 record. Esparza was a -125 betting favorite going into the fight. Carla Esparza beat Virna Jandiroba by Decision at 5:00 of Round 3.
Esparza defeated the previously unbeaten Marina Rodriguez on July 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Till. Marina Rodriguez came into the fight with a 12-0-2 record. Esparza was a +150 betting underdog going into the fight. Carla Esparza beat Marina Rodriguez by Decision at 5:00 of Round 3.
Esparza won the UFC Strawweight Championship defeating Rose Namajunas on May 7, 2022 at UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje.
This was Esparza's 3rd UFC championship fight.
Carla Esparza beat Rose Namajunas by Decision at 5:00 of Round 5.
Esparza lost her UFC Strawweight title to Weili Zhang on November 12, 2022 at UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira.
The loss meant that Esparza had made no successful defences of the UFC strawweight title.
Carla Esparza lost to Weili Zhang by Submission at 1:05 of Round 2.
Esparza's last win came against Rose Namajunas at UFC 274 on Saturday May 7, 2022. Carla Esparza beat Rose Namajunas by Decision at 5:00 of Round 5.
Esparza is not currently booked for any fights.
Esparza's last loss came against Weili Zhang at UFC 281 on Saturday November 12, 2022. Carla Esparza lost to Weili Zhang by Submission at 1:05 of Round 2.
Esparza has fought 15 times in the UFC. Her UFC record stands at 10-5-0.
Esparza has knocked out 3 opponents.
Esparza has submitted 6 opponents.
Esparza has been knocked out 2 times.
Esparza has been submitted 2 times.
