Two-time UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza hung up her gloves on Saturday night time after dropping a detailed resolution in her remaining battle.
The legendary 115lb star, recognized to followers as ‘Cookie Monster’, was defeated by Unanimous Choice towards Tecia Pennington at UFC 307 within the remaining battle of a 27-fight profession. She had made her plan recognized previous to battle night time, and introduced it weeks forward of the event.
Nevertheless it nonetheless made for an emotional second as she laid down her gloves within the octagon in entrance of the Salt Lake Metropolis crowd. A former title holder in a number of organizations, Esparza has been preventing professionally since earlier than ladies have been allowed within the UFC.
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Former strawweight world champion Carla Esparza loses to Tecia Pennington at UFC 307
After a prolonged profession spanning virtually a decade-and-a-half, Carla Esparza determined to name it a day following her newest UFC outing. She had been out of motion for nearly two years after dropping her belt to Weili Zhang in 2022, throughout which period she had been specializing in her household.
Esparza gave start to her first youngster with husband Matthew Lomeli in September of final yr, and she or he had been taking time to get better over the next yr. And whereas she was eager to get again in battle form as soon as extra, she deliberate to hold up her gloves shortly after.
She ended up being booked to face Pennington, who had struggled to 2 cut up resolution wins in her previous few outings. The pair met throughout their season of The Final Fighter again in 2014, however that two-round bout led to controversy as Esparza took a uncommon Majority Choice.
Esparza retains having good combos then backing away, i legit assume she had a number of possibilities to knock pennington out if she saved the combos going
Nice final battle W Carla Esparza #UFC307 pic.twitter.com/qnkdX0lAL1— MMA 🦈 (@MMASharke1) October 5, 2024
Pennington seemed to be touchdown the larger strikes within the first spherical, and Esparza appeared damage at one level midway via the opening stanza. However the former champion acquired her down, and took management because the seconds ticked away earlier than the bell.
A famend wrestler, Esparza struggled to get the takedown within the second as she was tagged a number of instances. However because the pair started to essentially commerce and Pennington started to land impactful photographs, she did get that elusive takedown – albeit with restricted injury.
For the ultimate time in her life, Esparza headed to the nook forward of the third, with the story of the bout itself being Pennington’s spectacular leg kicks. And with seconds to go, she lastly acquired her takedown and ended her illustrious profession in a high place.
The choice didn’t go Esparza’s means, with Pennington taking two 29-28 scorecards and one huge 30-27.
Carla Esparza retires with emotional speech after 14-year profession
The group gave Esparza a giant reception following her defeat, with many booing Pennington after the controversial scorecards. Even a respectful interview, the winner was booed away earlier than the previous champion introduced her son into the octagon in a Cookie Monster costume to a rousing reception.
“ what, thanks guys a lot, this crowd was superior,” she informed Joe Rogan after the very fact. “Can’t depart it to the judges, I’ll have to return and watch it. Proud to battle with a veteran from TUF.”
Esparza was then proven a tribute video to her profession, after which she choked again tears earlier than telling Rogan: “It’s been an incredible journey this final 15 years. I’ve fought the very best of the very best and it’s not at all times straightforward, however I like this sport, thanks guys a lot.”
She then thanked her teaching group and household as she was given the possibility to put down her gloves. Rogan and broadcast associate Daniel Cormier admitted that they have been virtually moved to tears after the very fact, earlier than each claiming the outcome was a theft.
Carla Esparza introduced plans to retire earlier than UFC 307 battle
The retirement announcement from Esparza was not a lot of a shock to battle followers, given she had confirmed plans to hold up the gloves earlier than the battle. Throughout media day she made a degree that the outcome wouldn’t matter, and that she plans to stay to her resolution in contrast to many different fighters.
“Most positively,” she informed the press when requested how severe she was about planning to retire on battle night time. “Irrespective of the result; one-minute end, I believe that is it for me. I’m type of prepared to maneuver on to that subsequent chapter in life, simply staying dwelling with my son, perhaps rising a much bigger household.
“It’s going to be somewhat bit arduous to get again within the octagon, huge stomach like that… I’m actually simply making an attempt to benefit from the second and type of have a extra carefree perspective and simply have enjoyable with everybody – usually, I’d simply be a hermit in my room and tremendous centered.
“However now I’m simply having fun with each side of it, making an attempt to take extra photos, doc somewhat bit extra. I’m doing an after-party and having all my associates which can be popping out for lunch after weigh-ins, simply having enjoyable and appreciating the individuals and the expertise of battle week.”
Carla Esparza leaves enviable legacy behind after 14-year profession
California native Esparza is among the authentic names in ladies’s MMA, and her profession as a high fighter pre-dates even having feminine athletes within the UFC. When she was defeating Bec Rawlings for the Invicta belt in January 2013, the game’s greatest promotion have been nonetheless weeks away from their first ladies’s bout.
Esparza ended up arriving within the UFC as a double champ of kinds. She received The Ultimate Fighter season 20, which additionally culminated in a strawweight world champion being topped, by taking a Rear Bare Choke win within the third spherical of her assembly with Rose Namajunas.
She shortly misplaced that belt to Joanna Jedrzejczyk, however she caught with it and thru a tough up-and-down journey within the octagon, she acquired again to competition in 2022. There, she confronted Namajunas once more and landed a cut up resolution victory that noticed her reclaim the title eight years on from her first victory.
“I’d say the most important factor I need individuals to recollect from my story isn’t rely your self out,” she stated this week. “You may fall, however you possibly can at all times construct your means again up, and in the event you put sufficient work in and also you need it sufficient, you possibly can at all times come again higher.”
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