Biography
Carla Kristen Esparza is an American former professional mixed martial artist and wrestler who most recently competed in the women's Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is a former two-time UFC Women's Strawweight Champion. Esparza was the first UFC Strawweight Champion, the first Invicta FC Strawweight Champion, and was generally considered the best Strawweight fighter in the world during both title reigns. She first earned the UFC championship by winning a 16-woman tournament that was televised on the reality series The Ultimate Fighter. She also competed in Bellator MMA's first women's tournament.
UFC Stats
Official · ufc.com2.19
/ min
Sig. strikes landed
2.87
/ min
Sig. strikes absorbed
3.28
/ 15 min
Takedowns
0.27
avg
Submissions
0
avg
Knockdowns
How He Wins
Finish Rate
wins by finish
Recent Form
Mixed Martial Arts27 Bouts
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rd | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss |  Tecia PenningtonH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 307 | Oct 5, 2024 |
| Loss |  Zhang WeiliH2H | Submission (rear-naked choke) | R2 | UFC 281 | Nov 12, 2022 |
| Win | Rose NamajunasH2H | Decision (split) | R5 | UFC 274 | May 7, 2022 |
| Win | Yan Xiaonan | TKO (punches) | R2 | UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt | May 22, 2021 |
| Win |  Marina RodriguezH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till | Jul 26, 2020 |
| Win | Michelle Waterson | Decision (split) | R3 | UFC 249 | May 9, 2020 |
| Win |  Alexa GrassoH2H | Decision (majority) | R3 | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens | Sep 21, 2019 |
| Win | Virna JandirobaH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson | Apr 27, 2019 |
| Loss | Tatiana SuarezH2H | TKO (punches and elbows) | R3 | UFC 228 | Sep 8, 2018 |
| Loss | Cláudia GadelhaH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | UFC 225 | Jun 9, 2018 |
| Win | Cynthia CalvilloH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 219 | Dec 30, 2017 |
| Win |  Maryna MorozH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee | Jun 25, 2017 |
| Loss |  Randa MarkosH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Browne | Feb 19, 2017 |
| Win | Juliana LimaH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | UFC 197 | Apr 23, 2016 |
| Loss |  Joanna JędrzejczykH2H | TKO (punches) | R2 | UFC 185 | Mar 14, 2015 |
| Win | Rose NamajunasH2H | Submission (rear-naked choke) | R3 | The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale | Dec 12, 2014 |
| Win |  Bec RawlingsH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R5 | Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt | Jan 5, 2013 |
| Win | Lynn AlvarezH2H | TKO (punches) | R1 | Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama | Oct 6, 2012 |
| Win | Sarah SchneiderH2H | TKO (punches) | R2 | Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann | Jul 28, 2012 |
| Win | Felice HerrigH2H | Decision (unanimous) | R3 | XFC 15: Tribute | Dec 2, 2011 |
| Loss | Jessica AguilarH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | Bellator 46 | Jun 25, 2011 |
| Win | Yadira AnzalduaH2H | Submission (rear-naked choke) | R1 | ECSC: Friday Night Fights 3 | Apr 15, 2011 |
| Win | Nina AnsaroffH2H | Decision (split) | R3 | Crowbar MMA: Winter Brawl | Dec 10, 2010 |
| Loss |  Megumi FujiiH2H | Submission (armbar) | R2 | Bellator 24 | Aug 12, 2010 |
| Win | Lacey Schuckman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | R2 | NMEF Ladies Night: Clash of the Titans 8 | Jul 16, 2010 |
| Win | Karina HallinanH2H | Submission (rear-naked choke) | R2 | Long Beach Fight Night 8 | Apr 18, 2010 |
| Win | Cassie TrostH2H | TKO (punches) | R1 | Respect in the Cage 3 | Feb 19, 2010 |
Related Fighters
Tecia Pennington15-8-0 · SW
Weili Zhang26-4-0 · SW
Rose Namajunas14-8-0 · FLY
Xiaonan Yan19-5-0 · SW
Marina Rodriguez17-6-2 · SW
Michelle Waterson-Gomez18-13-0 · SW
Alexa Grasso17-5-1 · FLY
Virna Jandiroba23-4-0 · SW
Tatiana Suarez12-1-0 · SW
Claudia Gadelha18-5-0 · SW
Cynthia Calvillo10-6-1 · FLY
Maryna Moroz11-6-0 · FLYData sourced from public records for archival/research purposes.