The UFC’s first women’s strawweight title fight is set.
Rose Namajunas will meet Carla Esparza in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale on Friday in Las Vegas with the 115-pound belt on the line. Namajunas beat Randa Markos by first-round submission and Esparza knocked off Jessica Penne via unanimous decision in the semifinals on Wednesday night’s final episode of The Ultimate Fighter 20.
Namajunas (2-1) came in as the No. 7 seed, but has emerged as the favorite to win the whole thing. On the show, she choked out Alex Chambers in the first round, submitted Joanne Calderwood with a kimura in the quarterfinals and dispatched Markos with the same kimura in the semis. The 22-year-old has been uncovered as what UFC president Dana White has presented as the Ronda Rousey-like competitor on this season of the show.
“I feel speechless, like spectacular,” Namajunas said. “It’s really nice to know that hard work does pay off. You just keep a positive attitude no matter what comes in your way — challenges, roadblocks — don’t let it faze you and you can overcome anything.”
Esparza (9-2) started as the top seed and the former Invicta FC women’s strawweight champion and has only lived up to that potential. She beat Angela Hill by first-round submission in the first round and Tecia Torres by majority decision in the quarterfinals before outstriking Penne in the semis. Esparza executed the perfect game plan in the latter bout, beating up Penne on the feet and taking her down, but staying out of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu player’s dangerous guard.
“I feel so emotional,” Esparza said. “It’s just amazing, because people expected me to make it this far and be in the finals, but I didn’t know if I could do it. And now it’s just like it finally happened. I can’t put it into words.”
Penne and Markos will fight each other Friday night at the Pearl at the Palms in a pseudo third-place matchup that is still far more important than any other Ultimate Fighter consolation fight. The winner will likely gain a top-five spot in the rankings.