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Carla Esparza is ready to hang up her gloves. The former two-time UFC strawweight champion has announced that her upcoming fight against Tecia Pennington at UFC 307 will be her last. Scheduled to take place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on October 5, this highly anticipated bout marks the end of Esparza's illustrious 15-year career.
Esparza and Pennington have a storied history. Their upcoming fight is a rematch from 2014, where Esparza defeated Pennington (then Torres) via majority decision in an exhibition bout during The Ultimate Fighter 20. Esparza's victory in that tournament led to her becoming the UFC's inaugural strawweight champion.
Esparza, with a professional record of 19-7, has not fought since her loss to Zhang Weili at UFC 281 in November 2022. This defeat ended her brief second reign as the strawweight champion. In March 2023, Esparza announced her pregnancy, and she gave birth in September. Reflecting on her career and upcoming retirement.
Throughout her career, Esparza has faced and defeated some of the biggest names in women's MMA, including Rose Namajunas (twice), Yan Xiaonan, Marina Rodriguez, Michelle Waterson-Gomez, and Alexa Grasso. Her achievements in the octagon have cemented her legacy as one of the best straw weights in the history of the sport.
Tecia Pennington, with a record of 13-7, has also had a noteworthy career. She recently returned to the octagon after a long layoff, having given birth in June 2023. In her most recent fight, Pennington lost a split decision to Tabatha Ricci. Now, she looks forward to a rematch with Esparza, aiming to even the score and make a statement of her own.
The UFC 307 showdown between Esparza and Pennington promises to be a memorable event. As Esparza prepares to bid farewell to the sport she has dedicated her life to, fans can expect an emotional and action-packed fight.
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