Carla Esparza ended her profession on a bittersweet loss after three hard-fought rounds towards Tecia Pennington on the UFC 307 prelims.
The 2-time former strawweight champion discovered success early with a takedown however then couldn’t sustain with Pennington’s putting, which in the end value her the combat. The scorecards got here again 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 with Pennington getting the win by unanimous choice.
“Can’t depart it to the judges,” Esparza stated after saying that Saturday would function her retirement combat. “I assumed I received it. Nice combat, Tecia. Honored to exit with a veteran from TUF.”
With tears in her eyes, Esparza watched a tribute video ready by the UFC to say goodbye earlier than leaving her gloves within the octagon for the ultimate time.
“It’s been an incredible journey this final 15 years,” Esparza stated. “I fought the perfect of the perfect. It’s not all the time simple. I wouldn’t have finished it some other manner. Thank to all of the UFC followers, my associates, my household, the superior UFC employees. Simply all people. I really like this sport, thanks guys a lot.”
Whereas it wasn’t the way in which she wished to exit, Esparza saved it shut however the distinction actually got here right down to Pennington’s skill to do extra injury on the ft.
Aggressive from the beginning, Pennington instantly set the tone with a pointy putting assault to maintain Esparza on her backfoot. Pennington blasted Esparza with a stiff proper hand halfway by the opening spherical that appeared to wobble the previous strawweight champion momentarily.
That led to a takedown from Esparza as she not solely took the dominant place however allowed herself time to get well after struggling within the putting exchanges early. Esparza continued to pepper manner with quick punches whereas sustaining management over Pennington.
Again on the ft to start out the second spherical, Esparza confirmed higher putting together with a proper hand that clubbed Pennington and bought her consideration. Pennington began firing again earlier than she clipped Esparza with a rapid-fire mixture that when once more caught her off guard.
As time handed, Pennington actually confirmed superiority along with her strikes, which included some good leg kicks that chipped away at Esparza’s basis. Whereas Pennington was controlling the space, Esparza did handle to blow up ahead just a few instances to attach with a few good punches earlier than getting one ultimate takedown.
Esparza tried one final flurry with punches and elbows however she simply couldn’t mount sufficient offense to counter the superior putting from Pennington in the course of the 5 minute session.
After shedding two razor-close choices in her earlier two appearances within the UFC, Pennington was joyful to lastly get again within the win column.
“I give it to myself,” Pennington stated in regards to the choice. “I don’t care in regards to the boos.”
Pennington now will get to take pleasure in her win whereas ready for her spouse — UFC bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington — to carry out within the co-main occasion at UFC 307
