After practically 15 years in MMA, and greater than twenty years in fight sports activities, a pioneer has determined her subsequent struggle can be her final.
Inaugural UFC ladies’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza (19-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC) introduced Friday on Instagram that her upcoming struggle in opposition to Tecia Pennington (13-7 MMA, 9-7 UFC) at UFC 307 can be her remaining one.
Esparza cited an opportunity to exit her option to begin spending extra time together with her household.
“*RETIREMENT FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT* I can be getting into The UFC Octagon on Saturday, October fifth for the ultimate time,” Esparza posted. “After nearly 15 years as knowledgeable, combating the perfect of the perfect, I really feel it’s time to hold up my gloves. This selection is made for my physique and my household; 20+ years doing fight sports activities takes its toll.
“I needed to offer my ‘Cookie Monster’ followers, who’ve by no means been there to observe me stay, one remaining alternative. It feels bittersweet to depart this sport that I really like a lot, however I’m pleased to be doing it by myself phrases. #UFC307”
Esparza, who will flip 37 in October, fought on the regional scene early in her profession, however the two photographs she had on the greater stage for Bellator got here up brief. However after a win over Felice Herrig, she made her option to Invicta and received the strawweight title in opposition to Bec Rawlings.
When the UFC opened up “The Final Fighter” for ladies’s strawweights, she made it to the present, then received it by submitted Rose Namajunas to change into the promotion’s first 115-pound champ. And although she misplaced it in her first tried title protection in opposition to Joanna Jedrzejczyk in 2015, she ultimately labored her method again to a five-fight profitable streak and upset Namajunas in 2022 to win the title for a second time.
Later that 12 months, although, Esparza bumped into one other two-time champion in Zhang Weili and was submitted to give up the belt. Rather less than a 12 months later, Esparza had her first youngster. This can be her first struggle after giving delivery.
UFC 307 (pay-per-view/ESPN/ESPN+) takes place Oct. 5 at Delta Heart in Salt Lake Metropolis.
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Pictures: Carla Esparza via the years
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