Carla Esparza (19-8, 8) was born in Torrance, California, U.S. on October 10, 1987. At the age of 22 years on February 19, 2010, she made her professional MMA debut against Cassie Trost, winning the fight via 1st-round TKO.
On March 14, 2015, 27-year old Carla Esparza made her UFC debut on her 13th professional MMA fight at UFC 185 against a 27-year old Joanna Jędrzejczyk but lost the fight via TKO in the 2nd round.
She became the UFC strawweight champion on May 7, 2022 at age 34 on her 25th professional MMA fight at UFC 274 after defeating a 29-year old Rose Namajunas via 5-round split decision.
Esparza's last fight was a 3-round unanimous decision loss to Tecia Pennington at UFC 307 at age 36 on October 5, 2024. She retired on a 2-fight losing streak.
She has fought 15 times in the UFC, and has a record of 9 wins and 6 losses in the promotion.
Some of Carla Esparza's best fights have been against Rose Namajunas, Juliana Lima, Yan Xiaonan, Alexa Grasso, Maryna Moroz, Cynthia Calvillo and Virna Jandiroba.
Esparza has 8 losses on her MMA record.
| # | Date | Opponent | Promotion | Weight | Round | Method | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27  | Oct 5, 2024 36 years, 11 months 19-8 (8) | 35 years, 1 months 13-7 (2) | UFC | ST | 3 | UD | LOSS |
26  | Nov 12, 2022 35 years, 1 months 19-7 (8) | 32 years, 2 months 22-3 (18) | UFC | ST | 2 | SUB | LOSS Rear-naked choke Lost UFC Women's strawweight title |
25  | May 7, 2022 34 years, 6 months 19-6 (8) | 29 years, 10 months 11-4 (7) | UFC | ST | 5 | SD | WIN Won UFC Women's strawweight title |
24 | May 22, 2021 33 years, 7 months 18-6 (8) | Yan Xiaonan | UFC | ST | 2 | TKO | WIN Punches |
23  | Jul 26, 2020 32 years, 9 months 17-6 (7) | 33 years, 2 months 12-0-2 (6) | UFC | ST | 3 | SD | WIN |
22  | May 9, 2020 32 years, 6 months 16-6 (7) | 34 years, 4 months 17-7 (10) | UFC | ST | 3 | SD | WIN |
21  | Sep 21, 2019 31 years, 11 months 15-6 (7) | 26 years, 1 months 11-2 (4) | UFC | ST | 3 | MD | WIN |
20  | Apr 27, 2019 31 years, 6 months 14-6 (7) | 30 years, 10 months 14-0 (11) | UFC | ST | 3 | UD | WIN |
19  | Sep 8, 2018 30 years, 10 months 13-6 (7) | 27 years, 8 months 6-0 (4) | UFC | ST | 3 | TKO | LOSS Punches and elbows |
18  | Jun 9, 2018 30 years, 7 months 13-5 (7) | 29 years, 6 months 15-3 (9) | UFC | ST | 3 | SD | LOSS |
17  | Dec 30, 2017 30 years, 2 months 13-4 (7) | 30 years, 5 months 6-0 (4) | UFC | ST | 3 | UD | WIN |
16  | Jun 25, 2017 29 years, 8 months 12-4 (7) | 25 years, 9 months 8-1 (6) | UFC | ST | 3 | UD | WIN |
15 | Feb 19, 2017 29 years, 4 months 11-4 (7) | Randa Markos | UFC | ST | 3 | SD | LOSS |
14 | Apr 23, 2016 28 years, 6 months 11-3 (7) | Juliana Lima | UFC | ST | 3 | UD | WIN |
13  | Mar 14, 2015 27 years, 5 months 10-3 (7) | 27 years, 6 months 8-0 (3) | UFC | ST | 2 | TKO | LOSS Punches Lost UFC Women's strawweight title |
12 | Dec 12, 2014 27 years, 2 months 10-2 (7) | 22 years, 5 months 2-1 (2) | TUF | ST | 3 | SUB | WIN Rear-naked choke Won UFC Women's strawweight title |
11  | Jan 5, 2013 25 years, 2 months 9-2 (6) | 23 years, 10 months 4-1 (2) | ST | 5 | UD | WIN Won Invicta FC strawweight title | |
10 | Oct 6, 2012 24 years, 11 months 8-2 (6) | Lynn Alvarez | FL | 1 | TKO | WIN Punches | |
9 | Jul 28, 2012 24 years, 9 months 7-2 (5) | Sarah Schneider | FL | 2 | TKO | WIN Punches | |
8  | Dec 2, 2011 24 years, 1 months 6-2 (4) | 27 years, 2 months 5-3 (3) | FL | 3 | UD | WIN | |
7  | Jun 25, 2011 23 years, 8 months 5-2 (4) | 29 years, 1 months 10-4 (8) | Bellator | FL | 3 | SD | LOSS |
6 | Apr 15, 2011 23 years, 6 months 5-1 (4) | Yadira Anzaldua | FL | 1 | SUB | WIN Rear-naked choke | |
5 | Dec 10, 2010 23 years, 2 months 4-1 (3) | Nina Ansaroff | FL | 3 | SD | WIN | |
4 | Aug 12, 2010 22 years, 10 months 3-1 (3) | Megumi Fujii | Bellator | FL | 2 | SUB | LOSS Armbar |
3 | Jul 16, 2010 22 years, 9 months 3-0 (3) | Lacey Schuckman | 2 | SUB | WIN Rear-naked choke | ||
2 | Apr 18, 2010 22 years, 6 months 2-0 (2) | Karina Hallinan | 2 | SUB | WIN Rear-naked choke | ||
1 | Feb 19, 2010 22 years, 4 months 1-0 (1) | Cassie Trost | 1 | TKO | WIN Punches |
