Carla Esparza

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Carla Esparza
Born Carla Kristen O'Connell
(1987-10-10) October 10, 1987
Torrance, California, United States
Other names Cookie Monster
Residence Redondo Beach, California, United States
Nationality American
Height 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)
Weight 115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st)
Division Strawweight
Style Wrestling
Fighting out of Redondo Beach, California, United States
Team Team Oyama
Years active 2010-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 11
Wins 9
By knockout 3
By submission 3
By decision 3
Losses 2
By submission 1
By decision 1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Carla Kristen Esparza[1] (née O'Connell, born October 10, 1987) is an American professional female mixed martial artist fighting at Strawweight (115 pounds).[2] She is the first and current Invicta FC Strawweight Champion.[3][4] She also competed in Bellator Fighting Championships' first women's tournament.

Esparza is currently the #13-ranked pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world by MMARising.com[5] and the #2-ranked female strawweight according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.[6]

Amateur and collegiate

Carla Esparza's foray into mixed martial arts began when she started wrestling for the varsity team during her junior year at Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California.[7]

After winning multiple local and national high school wrestling tournaments, Esparza was awarded a scholarship to Menlo College to wrestle under coach and former two-time Olympian Lee Allen.[8]

In 2008 and 2009, Esparza was a women's wrestling All-American at Menlo College.[9]

While in college, Esparza started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the Gracie Academy in Torrance under Rener, Ryron, and Ralek Gracie. She then expanded her mixed martial arts repertoire when she began training at Team Oyama during the summer of her junior year of college.[10]

Mixed martial arts career

Bellator

In August 2010, only six months after her pro debut and with just three professional MMA fights, Esparza was called in by Bellator Fighting Championships as a last-minute replacement for Angela Magana, who was forced to withdraw from her upcoming fight due to a foot injury.[11] Esparza was inserted in the bracket of the Bellator Season 3 115 lb women's tournament at Bellator 24. On just three days' notice, Esparza's opponent in the quarterfinal round was the undefeated and then #1 pound-for-pound female MMA fighter in the world, Megumi Fujii.[11] Esparza lost the fight to the heavily favored Fujii via second-round armbar submission.[12][13]

In June 2011, Esparza returned to the Bellator cage and faced fellow Season 3 tournament challenger Jessica Aguilar at Bellator 46.[14][15] After a three-round back and forth battle, Aguilar defeated Esparza via split decision.[16][17]

XFC and MEZ Sports

On December 2, 2011, Esparza made her XFC debut against Felice Herrig at XFC 15: Tribute in Tampa, Florida.[18] She defeated Herrig via unanimous decision.[19]

Three months later, Esparza was scheduled to face Angela Magana at Pandemonium VI for the MEZ Sports women’s flyweight title.[20][21] Unfortunately, Magana was involved in a car accident on the day of the fight while in transit to the Riverside Convention Center, where the event was being staged.[22] Magana re-broke her back in the collision and was unable to compete in the fight.[23]

Invicta FC

In May 2012, it was announced that Esparza had signed with the upstart all-female Invicta Fighting Championships promotion.[24]

On July 28, 2012, Esparza made her Invicta debut at the promotion's second event, entitled Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann, and faced Sarah Schneider on the preliminary card.[24] Esparza won the fight via TKO (punches) at 4:28 of round two.[25]

Esparza returned to Invicta to face Lynn Alvarez at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama on October 6, 2012.[26] She defeated Alvarez via TKO (punches) at 2:53 of round one.[27]

Strawweight Championship

Esparza was expected to face Ayaka Hamasaki for the Invicta FC Strawweight Championship at Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt on January 5, 2013.[28] However, Hamasaki withdrew from the fight in order to defend her Jewels Lightweight title in Japan. Esparza was then set to face Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Claudia Gadelha in the Invicta FC 4 main event,[29] but Gadelha broke her nose in training and was forced to withdraw.[30]

Esparza ultimately faced Australian fighter Bec Hyatt for the Invicta FC Strawweight Championship.[31] Esparza won the fight via unanimous decision to become the first Invicta FC Strawweight Champion.[3][4]

Esparza agreed to defend her title against Ayaka Hamasaki at Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg on July 13, 2013.[32][33] However, on June 4 she withdrew from the fight due to a knee injury.[34]

On December 7, 2013, Esparza was set to defend her strawweight title against Claudia Gadelha at Invicta FC 7.[35] However on the day of the event, Gadelha was taken to the hospital due to a bacterial infection and the fight was canceled.

Ultimate Fighting Championships

On December 11, 2013, it was announced that Esparza was signed by the UFC along with ten other strawweight fighters to compete on season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter which will crown the first ever UFC strawweight champion.[36]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Submission grappling

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9-2 Australia Bec Hyatt Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt January 5, 2013 5 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Won Invicta FC Strawweight Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8-2 United States Lynn Alvarez TKO (punches) Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama October 6, 2012 1 2:53 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7-2 United States Sarah Schneider TKO (punches) Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann July 28, 2012 2 4:28 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6-2 United States Felice Herrig Decision (unanimous) XFC 15: Tribute December 2, 2011 3 5:00 Tampa, Florida, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5-2 United States Jessica Aguilar Decision (split) Bellator 46 June 25, 2011 3 5:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5-1 United States Yadira Anzaldua Submission (rear-naked choke) ECSC: Friday Night Fights 3 April 15, 2011 1 0:53 Clovis, New Mexico, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4-1 United States Nina Ansaroff Decision (split) Crowbar MMA: Winter Brawl December 10, 2010 3 5:00 Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 3-1 Japan Megumi Fujii Submission (armbar) Bellator 24 August 12, 2010 2 0:57 Hollywood, Florida, United States Bellator Season 3 115 lb women's tournament quarter final
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3-0 United States Lacey Schuckman Submission (rear-naked choke) NMEF - Ladies Night: Clash of the Titans 8 July 16, 2010 2 2:37 Castle Rock, Colorado, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2-0 United States Karina Hallinan Submission (rear-naked choke) Long Beach Fight Night 8 April 18, 2010 2 2:16 Long Beach, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1-0 United States Cassie Trost TKO (punches) Respect in the Cage 3 February 19, 2010 1 0:48 Pomona, California, United States

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Carla Kristen Esparza". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2012-11-01. 
  2. ↑ "Carla Esparza MMA Record". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Invicta FC 4 Results: Carla Esparza Wins Strawweight Title". MMARising.com. 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2013-01-13. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Invicta FC 4 results: Esparza outlasts Hyatt for belt, Davis chokes out Baszler". MMAjunkie.com. 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2013-01-13. 
  5. ↑ "Women's MMA Pound-For-Pound Rankings". MMARising.com. Retrieved 2013-11-01. 
  6. ↑ "Unified Women's Mixed Martial Arts Rankings". MMARising.com. Retrieved 2013-11-01. 
  7. ↑ "Sea Hawks will host wrestling tournament". my.hsj.org. 2005-01-21. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  8. ↑ "2008-09 Women's Wrestling - Carla O'Connell". MenloAthletics.com. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  9. ↑ "Menlo All-Americans". MenloAthletics.com. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  10. ↑ "Carla Esparza Bio and WMMA Fight Facts". UltimateApocalypse.com. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Carla Esparza To Face Megumi Fujii At Bellator 24". MMARising.com. 2010-08-09. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  12. ↑ "Fujii, Aguilar Both Victorious At Bellator 24". MMARising.com. 2010-08-12. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  13. ↑ "Lombard Flattens Goodman in 38 Seconds at Bellator 24". Sherdog.com. 2010-08-12. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  14. ↑ "Jessica Aguilar vs Carla Esparza Targeted For Late June". MMARising.com. 2011-03-30. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  15. ↑ "Aguilar-Esparza Expected for Bellator’s ‘Summer Series’". Sherdog.com. 2011-04-14. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  16. ↑ "Jessica Aguilar Edges Carla Esparza At Bellator 46". MMARising.com. 2011-06-25. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  17. ↑ "Bellator 46 Prelims: Aguilar Takes Split Decision, ‘Popo’ Impresses". Sherdog.com. 2011-06-25. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  18. ↑ "Carla Esparza vs Felice Herrig Announced For XFC 15". MMARising.com. 2011-10-13. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  19. ↑ "Carla Esparza Defeats Felice Herrig In XFC 15 Co-Feature". MMARising.com. 2011-12-02. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  20. ↑ "Carla Esparza vs Angela Magana Title Fight Planned For March". MMARising.com. 2011-12-27. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  21. ↑ "Pandemonium IV Returns to Riverside MMA card to be streamed live on Sherdog". Sherdog.com. 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  22. ↑ "Carla Esparza Interview". YouTube.com. 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  23. ↑ "Update: For the Second Time Female MMA Fighter Angela Magana has Broken her Back". PennyJoMMA.net. 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Carla Esparza To Face Sarah Schneider At Invicta FC 2". MMARising.com. 2012-05-20. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  25. ↑ "Invicta FC 2 Results: Baszler vs. McMann". MMAFighting.com. 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  26. ↑ "Carla Esparza vs Lynn Alvarez Headlines Invicta FC 3 Prelims". MMARising.com. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  27. ↑ "Invicta FC 3 Results: Penne vs. Sugiyama". MMAFighting.com. 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2012-10-14. 
  28. ↑ "Invicta FC’s Carla Esparza Preparing For January Title Fight". MMARising.com. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2012-10-25. 
  29. ↑ "Carla Esparza vs Claudia Gadelha Targeted For Invicta FC 4". MMARising.com. 2012-11-19. Retrieved 2012-11-19. 
  30. ↑ "Claudia Gadelha Injured, Out Of Invicta FC 4 Title Fight". MMARising.com. 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2012-12-31. 
  31. ↑ "Bec Hyatt Gets the Call to Face Carla Esparza in Main Event at Invicta FC 4". MMAWeekly.com. 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2012-12-31. 
  32. ↑ "Carla Esparza vs Ayaka Hamasaki Targeted For Invicta FC 6". MMARising.com. 2013-04-13. Retrieved 2013-04-15. 
  33. ↑ "Carla Esparza to Defend Belt at Invicta FC 6 in July; Bec Hyatt Also Returns". MMAWeekly.com. 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2013-04-19. 
  34. ↑ "Strawweight champion Carla Esparza out of Invicta FC 6 due to knee injury". MMAFighting.com. 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2013-06-04. 
  35. ↑ "Carla Esparza vs Claudia Gadelha Targeted For Invicta FC 7". MMARising.com. 2013-09-18. Retrieved 2013-09-20. 
  36. ↑ Dave Reid (2013-12-11). "UFC Announce Plans for Strawweight Division with TUF 20, Signings of Several Invicta FC Roster Confirmed". MMAInsider.net. Retrieved 2013-12-11. 

External links


New championship 1st Invicta FC Strawweight Champion
January 5, 2013 - present 		Incumbent


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