Former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) women’s Strawweight champion Jessica Aguilar has yet to step into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Octagon since an underwhelming loss to current No. 1 contender Claudia Gadelha at the UFC 190 pay-per-view (PPV) last August.
The loss ended her 10-fight win streak and saw her fall from the upper echelon of the 115-pound division all the way down to her current spot at No. 13. “JAG” is now hoping to change her standing in the division with a second victory over former foe and ex-UFC strawweight titleholder Carla Esparza, who’s been out of action for the last 11 months with injury.
Both women could be seen clamoring for a chance to shut the other one up on Twitter earlier this week.
@CarlaEsparza1 @ufc I have yet to sign a bout agreement and lord knows I’d rather sign one with your name on it
— Jessica Jag Aguilar (@jagatt) February 11, 2016
Let’s make it happen then. https://t.co/c7y0Qi31Kh
— Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) February 11, 2016
“Cookie Monster” faced Aguilar under the Bellator banner in June 2011, where the former suffered just her second professional loss at the time. Esparza, a former Invicta FC strawweight titleholder, last competed against current 115-pound queen bee Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 185, losing via second-round TKO.
Based upon the initial prognosis given to her following a June 2015 shoulder surgery, the California native is nearing the end of her time on the sidelines and could be on track for a return sometime around spring or summer.
Who’s interested in seeing these two high profile names duke it out in the Octagon?
Check out the full fight video from their first match at Bellator 46 below.