C. Esparza (left) and R. Namajunas (right) faced each other for the first time in 2014. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
2703 days later, Rose namajunas e Carla esparza They will once again be on opposite sides, sharing the octagon and fighting for the strawweight belt (up to 52,2kg). However, a lot has changed since the first duel, which took place in December 2014. The SUPER FIGHTS reminds the reader of what happened in the careers of the two athletes since their first confrontation.
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The beginning of the rivalry
C. Esparza faces R. Namajunas at the weigh-in for the TUF final. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter
On 12 December 2014, Carla esparza e Rose namajunas ascended to the octagon The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort, in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) to decide the twentieth edition of the reality show 'The Ultimate Fighter'. In addition to winning the program's trophy for the winner of the duel, the fight would also crown the first strawweight champion in UFC history.
Although the two athletes reached the big decision with great merit, the very final would mark the clash between two fighters with completely different careers until that occasion. Carla esparza TUF arrived as champion of the division in the Invicta FC women's event and with 11 professional fights completed, 'Cookie Monster' arrived on the program as one of the big favorites.
On the other side of the cage, Rose namajunas I was still a beginner in mixed martial arts. The American arrived on the program with just three professional fights on her record, two wins and one loss. As fights on the reality show are not part of the professional record, 'Thug' was the big underdog in the TUF 20 decision.
In the final, the predictions were confirmed. Esparza dominated the fight and defeated Rose with a rear naked choke in the third round. In addition to winning the tournament, Carla became the organization's first strawweight champion and the journey of the two athletes in the company took a different direction than the decision indicated.
Carla esparza
C. Esparza was the first UFC strawweight champion. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
What seemed to be a long reign for Esparza in the division, turned into a nightmare after his first title defense. In March 2015, the American faced the Polish Joanna Jędrzejczyk and was knocked out in the second round after suffering a real beating. After being dethroned, Carla spent just over a year away from the octagons and returned with a triumph over Brazilian Juliana Lima, however, in the very next fight, she suffered another defeat to Randa markos.
Unable to put together a sequence of fights in a short period, Carla had two consecutive victories in the second half of 2017, over Maryna moroz e Cynthia calvillo, however, the tough defeats to Claúdia Gadelha and Tatiana Suarez placeholder image they once again removed 'Cookie Monster' from the top of the strawweight division. And those who thought this was the 'end' of Esparza at the top level of the category were surprised.
Carla started 2019 with a victory over the Brazilian Virna jandiroba and in an incredible turnaround in his career, he began an impressive streak of five straight victories. In addition to Jandiroba, Esparza also hit Alexa grasso, Michelle Waterson, Marina Rodriguez and the chinese XiaonanYan. The successive triumphs guaranteed a new opportunity for 'Cookie Monster' to fight for the belt that once belonged to her.
Rose namajunas
R. Namajunas shocked the MMA world by defeating J. Jedrezcjyk in 2017 Photo: Facebook/UFC
Even with the defeat in the TUF 20 final and the little experience in her career, Rose quickly showed progress and in the next three fights, the American beat the also veteran Angela Hill, the promisse paige vanzant and his compatriot Tecia torres. Among the elite of the category, Namajunas was defeated by the Polish Karolina Kowalkiewicz in a title playoff.
After taking a few steps back in the division, Rose defeated Michele at the beginning of 2017 and got, once again, the long-awaited title shot. In the face of the feared Joanna Jedrzejczyk, the American shocked the world by achieving a beautiful knockout in the first round. Even with the rematch granted to the Polish woman, Namajunas managed a new victory, this time, on points.
In her second title defense, Rose came to Rio de Janeiro to face the local athlete Jessica Stacker. In front of a packed HSBC Arena, the North American had been winning the fight calmly, when the Brazilian surprised her with the blow she uses as her last name and knocked out the then champion.
After a long absence from the Octagon, Rose returned to the Octagon in a rematch against Bate-Estaca, however, without winning the strawweight belt, at that time, held by the Chinese Wheili Zhang. Namajunas, this time, was unlucky and beat the Brazilian in a split decision.
No UFC 261, which took place in April 2021, Rose had a new chance to fight for the strawweight belt, this time, against Wheili Zhang. Used to surprising the world, 'Thug' followed her traditional script and knocked out the Chinese woman with a powerful high kick to her rival's head. In the rematch against the Asian fighter, just over six months later, Rose won again, this time, by split decision from the judges.
Rose namajunas e Carla esparza will be the co-main event of the UFC 274. The long-awaited rematch will once again be worth the strawweight belt, currently held by 'Thug'. The show will be held at the Footprint Center, in Phoenix, Arizona (USA).
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