Forced out of her Dec. 7 strawweight title defense at Invicta FC 7, Carla Esparza’s weekend didn’t improve as she watched Tecia Torres derail her BFF from cageside. After Torres explained how she ‘dominated’ Felice Herrig, Esparza grabbed the mic, complimented the upstart but very matter-of-factly told her she ‘wanted to have a conversation in the cage.’
Esparza started the evening frustrated with top contender Claudia Gadelha falling ill and pulling out of their fight, but Torres was her focus by the end of it.
Fans had hoped they would see the pair square off as castmates on the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter, but with Torres dropping a decision to Randa Markos on Wednesday night’s premier it seems they’ll have to wait.
Following her loss, Torres wasn’t pleased with certain cast members making inferences regarding her performance.
“I’m going to do this once and leave it alone! I have NEVER and I repeat NEVER put any illegal substance in my body in any way shape or form. I have never even had a sip of alcohol in my life, let alone a cigarette, or any drug! I am true to my word about being straight-edged 100 %. I can’t help it that I am genetically gifted & my 20 years of hard work, martial arts, and dedication shows! SideNote: And to you Carla @carlaesparza1 who consistently has something to say about my body. I lived with you for 6 weeks and nothing about my body changed! So keep your comments to yourself. The End.”
Esparza was quick to respond, but didn’t do much to squash the beef with Torres.
“LMAO!!!! You are really going to include my name in this? Alright, so let me start by saying this: for someone who is constantly going on and on about their “college degree” (which I have 1 as well, but don’t go bragging about it), you sure seem to not be able to read! Someone commented: “I’m still confused about Tecia. She looked and moved like a different person.” I responded, “Interesting observation. I’ll say quite a few girls in the house had their theories about that. I’ll just leave it at that.”
Did I say I was accusing you?? Did I say “Yea bc she was totally on roids before and now that she had to be clean for the house, her performance suffered!”?? Nope! Tecia what’s sad is, in a way I defended you saying that if you don’t know for sure without a doubt, you can’t accuse someone. You wanna hear what OTHER people were saying?!? “Oh, that’s why she has that mustache and facial hair bc of all the steroids she’s done.” “Hmm looks like her back acne is clearing up not that she’s forced to be clean.” “She eat like absolute crap, yet still keeps her build.” “Funny how she goes undefeated, but now that she doesn’t have her steroids, she loses.” Tecia, I’m not saying I agree with those statements, and I wasn’t going out of my way to bad mouth you!! That’s just what was said, ok!!? I’m not hating on you, I couldn’t care less about you. So I’m just gonna let this go, enjoy your time at home, have a nice life. Peace”
Esparza followed up her post with a few more tweets:
LOL @lrobojew @TeciaTorres what’s funny is people would comment on that all the time. People even drew pics of it! So to call me out? #LAME
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) September 12, 2014
“@PabloSonning: you think @teciatorres juices? Heard she got weaker as show went on.” Interesting.Guess we will see as the show progresses.
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) September 12, 2014
@PabloSonning @TeciaTorres I’m just talking about what went on in the show. People can form their own opinion on the whole juicing thing.
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) September 12, 2014
“@alstover: I’m a fan of both of you so I’m only going to say that this makes me want to see you two fight more.” I think that’ be great!
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) September 12, 2014
It’s safe to assume these two get booked together sooner than later, especially if Esparza stumbles at some point in the tournament.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
MMA Beat. The panel discusses the first episode of “The Ultimate Fighter 20,” the UFC’s decision to re-sign Thiago Silva, what’s next for “Jacare” Souza and Alistair Overeem, Ben Askren, and much more.
Shot. Dana White says former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre will likely be given an immediate title shot upon his return to fighting. ‘GSP can do whatever he wants. If he wants to come back and fight for the title, or if he wants a fight before that – he can do whatever he wants.’
Tested. UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and title contender Chris Cariaso were both randomly drug tested ahead of their bout at UFC 178.
Not happy. TUF 20 coach Gilbert Melendez wasn’t thrilled with the show’s new bracketing system. ‘Considering it’s a competition, I’m told its a competition, you lose a coin toss and you get to choose when and who. I only got to choose who.’
‘Who says Jones isn’t popular?’ Dana White tries to clear up comments made by Joe Rogan regarding Jon Jones‘ popularity being affected by race.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 178: Extended Preview.
Junior dos Santos says he’s no longer interested in fighting Alistair Overeem.
ICYMI, Antony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez pick their teams for TUF 20 and set the brackets.
Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold argue over their KO resumes.
A lot of this is in Japanese but use your imagination.
Seems like a shill promo, which makes it even more interesting.
Long watches.
#FighterAndTheKid: Ray Rice Scandal, partying with Jason Ellis
TWEETS
Too bad.
I want all my fans to know I won’t fight on Australia card in Nov Since Woodley turned me down UFC has another plan but I will fight in 2014
— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) September 12, 2014
NYC.
I’ll never get used to not seeing the twin towers in the skyline! #neverforget #America #unitedwestand http://t.co/eA4tBTSD09
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) September 11, 2014
Whoa.
Was able to deliver our boy Rocket on this go around. Great/crazy experience. Thank you doc. http://t.co/EFblVB1cq1 pic.twitter.com/IQGuDnJrfJ
— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) September 12, 2014
OK.
trying to find a training partner w a head as big as @titoortiz. I think @bigsexymccorkle ‘s head is close enough pic.twitter.com/NdSbTx0QfK
— Stephan Bonnar (@StephanBonnar) September 11, 2014
Just ordered my training partner to mimic Bonnar. @BellatorMMA 131 @SpikeTV pic.twitter.com/AILmQg0X2J
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) September 11, 2014
Squattin’ 225?
Fight is still a ways away but the #grind doesn’t stop. It is my responsibility to train hard. I am… http://t.co/xgJUGkcjvJ
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) September 11, 2014
Stunt work?
So much blood… #TOK #TOK2 #Horror #Slasher #Film #blood&sand #boundxblood http://t.co/2vUJNQIbIn pic.twitter.com/Fbd5XRsgr0
— Jessamyn Duke (@jessamynduke) September 11, 2014
Cool.
Very excited to welcome Jason Jordan (@jasonmjordan) to the @BellatorMMA family as our new COO: http://t.co/K3qUXBmQ0g
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) September 11, 2014
Flyweight diet.
Eat In-N-Out with me so I know it’s real 🙂 pic.twitter.com/O4TXryV9sg
— Joseph Benavidez (@JoeJitsu) September 11, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Sept. 11 2014)
Thomas Almeida vs. Tim Gorman at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Manuwa
Daniel Kelly vs. Luke Zachrich at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold
Clint Hester vs. Robert Whittaker at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold
Daniel Omielanczuk vs. Soa Palelei at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold
Jake Matthews vs. Vagner Rocha at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold
Sam Alvey vs. Dylan Andrews at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold
Chris Clements vs. Vik Grujic at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via tranypanda.
The Ultimate Fighter Season 20, Episode 1 – Strawweights, what a start to the season
TUF 20 Strawweights is everything I wanted it to be. Great stories, great production and capped off with a fantastic fight between Randa Markos vs. Tecia Torres. Within 15 minutes I was very moved. I don’t know what it is about the women, I just admire the struggle that got them here so much. I had a similar moved/butterflies feeling in my stomach when Cat Zingano and Ronda Rousey made their first walks into the Octagon.
The look on Cat and Ronda and the TUF fighters faces… it’s more than JUST being in the UFC. It’s like a step for women as a whole or some shit that I’m absolutely not qualified to talk about. Edit: I meant Zinganos walk vs. Tate and Ronda’s vs. Carmouche. Zingano crying, clapping… She just seemed so appreciative of this opportunity… And Ronda’s walk out. I mean, her game face + that perfect “I don’t give a damn bout my reputation”. Goosebumps, most times, but especially for the first one.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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