Carla Esparza believes people don’t give her the respect she deserves. Esparza is the inaugural UFC strawweight champion and set to fight for UFC gold in the co-main event of UFC 274 on Saturday against Rose Namajunas. It’s an intriguing matchup given that Esparza beat Namajunas seven-and-a-half years ago for the inaugural belt. Entering this…
Carla Esparza believes people don’t give her the respect she deserves.
Esparza is the inaugural UFC strawweight champion and set to fight for UFC gold in the co-main event of UFC 274 on Saturday against Rose Namajunas. It’s an intriguing matchup given that Esparza beat Namajunas seven-and-a-half years ago for the inaugural belt.
Entering this fight, Namajunas is a sizeable favorite, but Esparza doesn’t care. Instead, she says she is going in there to get the win and prove she is one of the best ever.
“I definitely feel like people overlook what I’ve done in this sport. ‘Maybe it was a fluke,’ ‘Oh, it was so early on,’ ‘I don’t think she can do it again.’ And I know I’m the underdog going into this fight, but for me, it really doesn’t matter what people think because I’m going in there to win that fight,” Esparza said to ESPN.
(via Zuffa LLC)
If Carla Esparza is going to win this fight and become the champion again, her wrestling will be the key. In the first fight against Namajunas, she got five takedowns and ended up getting the submission win. Meanwhile, she has gotten at least one takedown in her past five fights, which she all won, and during those five fights, she has gotten 17 takedowns and averages 3.53 takedowns per 15 minutes.
UFC 274 could also serve as the final time Esparza fights for UFC gold given she is 34 and the strawweight division is super deep with a ton of up-and-coming contenders. With that, the stakes are high for Esparza to get the win.
Carla Esparza, as mentioned, is on a five-fight win streak and is 18-6 as a pro. Her last win was a one-sided beatdown of Yan Xioanan as she scored a second-round TKO. During this run, she also beat Marina Rodriguez, Michelle Waterson, Alexa Grasso, and Virna Jandiroba.
Do you think Carla Esparza will beat Rose Namajunas at UFC 274?
Rose Namajunas believes she’s clearly the best in her division and looks to solidify her status as the greatest strawweight in women’s mixed martial arts history. UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas will be facing Carla Esparza in a rematch eight years in the making since their first encounter. ‘Thug’ Rose took on Esparza in […]
Rose Namajunas believes she’s clearly the best in her division and looks to solidify her status as the greatest strawweight in women’s mixed martial arts history.
UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas will be facing Carla Esparza in a rematch eight years in the making since their first encounter. ‘Thug’ Rose took on Esparza in The Ultimate Fighter season 20, which introduced the 115 lbs division to the promotion. Although Namajunas was going into the bout as a big favorite, Esparza eclipsed her with a wrestling-heavy game plan and won via rear-naked choke.
Ahead of her rematch with Esparza at UFC 274, Rose Namajunas spoke to MMA Fighting about avenging her loss and how it would add to her legacy.
“I think what I see is, I’m clearly the best,” Namajunas said. “Obviously. It’s just a question of whether I’m the greatest in the division of all time. And I think this is a huge step toward that for me, and that’s the big test.”
Rose Namajunas believes Esparza to be a big test
In their first contest in 2014, Rose Namajunas stepped in her fourth professional MMA fight against the veteran Esparza who’d held Invicta FC gold. The outmatched level of experience may have played into the outcome of their first match. While she did not win, the future looked bright for the soon-to-be two-time and current world champion.
Namajunas went on to fulfill her potential when she shocked the world with a first-round knockout of Joanna Jedrzejczyk, the woman who took the title from Esparza and looked absolutely dominant in her run, three years later at UFC 217. Rose has shied away from talks about her greatness and it looks like she just might be accepting the quality of her abilities now.
“Joanna, I think, is probably [who people think about] most [when they think of the strawweight division],” Namajunas said. “Just during her time, she came around at a time where the level of competition just wasn’t even close to hers. So I think that I guess what I’m looking to do is to try to set myself apart, because I’m clearly the best, but I think in the last fight maybe it was kind of close, so I’ve really been working my butt off to just make sure that I can set that distance between all of us.
“I used to hate the term legacy,” Namajunas added, “when people would talk about it or just other fighters and stuff, but I think I have a different perspective on what it really means. It’s something that, it’s very intriguing, it’s a very intriguing topic, and it definitely adds a little bit of an element to motivation in my training and like, ‘Wow, look at where I’ve come and look at what all is available in front of me and possible.’ But really, in actuality, it’s just focusing on the present and focusing on just performing my best.
“When I do my best, y’all know I’m the best.”
Namajunas sees the growth in Esparza’s game as she’s developed into a more well rounded skillset. She also believes ‘The Cookie Monster’ has packed on more muscle making her a tough challenge to overcome this weekend.
“She said she’s a bigger, better version of herself, and I agree with that,” Namajunas said. “I think her traps are bigger. She’s got bigger muscles and I would imagine she’s a lot stronger, her technique has to be crisper, and I think a lot of girls maybe overlook her blitz attacks and her boxing and stuff like that. So I just make sure that I look at all of those things and take that into account for my preparations, and I think she’s just a bigger, better version of herself than she was eight years ago, and I’m ready for that.”
UFC 274 is quickly approaching, and we’ve got our staff predictions ready for you ahead of this weekend’s big card! UFC 274 will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The main card begins at 10:00 PM ET, and the ESPN preliminary card kicks off at 8:00 PM. The early preliminary…
UFC 274 is quickly approaching, and we’ve got our staff predictions ready for you ahead of this weekend’s big card!
UFC 274 will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The main card begins at 10:00 PM ET, and the ESPN preliminary card kicks off at 8:00 PM. The early preliminary card starts at 5:30 PM. The event will take place from The Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
In the main event, reigning champion Charles Oliveira will defend the lightweight title against Justin Gaethje in what will be Gaethje’s second attempt at UFC gold after falling to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020. The co-main event will see another title fight in a rematch between strawweight champion Rose Namajunas and her opponent, Carla Esparza.
Prior to the title fights, fan-favorites Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson will lock horns in a bout that could very easily steal the show.
Also on the main card, we could very well be seeing the final Octagon appearance for the loser of Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon, or perhaps even both veterans. You won’t want to miss this monumental battle between two of the UFC’s most familiar faces.
Additionally, there will be a light heavyweight rematch between two other UFC veterans when Ovince Saint Preux takes on Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
UFC 274 Staff Predictions
MMA News is the place to be for all the latest UFC 274 updates. I, Harvey Leonard, and Andrew Starc have provided our picks for you below.
Here is the full main card for UFC 274:
UFC Lightweight Championship Bout: Charles Oliveira (c) vs. Justin Gaethje
UFC Strawweight Championship Bout: Rose Namajunas (c) vs. Carla Esparza
Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon
Donald Cerrone vs. Joe Lauzon
Donald Cerrone, Joe Lauzon
Clyde Aidoo: Donald Cerrone and Joe Lauzon are both long-toothed veterans of the UFC. With the two combatants being 39 and 37 years old respectively and both losing more than winning in recent years, many fighters could adopt the belief that this is anyone’s fight. I don’t quite think that’s the case.
The one difference that stands out to me between these two men’s records is the level of competition. Cerrone has continued to face ranked fighters and former champions while Lauzon has primarily tangled with fellow unranked veterans, such as his UFC 274 opponent Cerrone.
That said, I’m not looking at this fight from a “Who’s form is currently worse as of late?” perspective. I’m judging this fight the same way I would if these two were paired together at any point in their careers: which is that Lauzon is unlikely to join the list of names like Conor McGregor, Darren Till, and Justin Gaethje in putting away Cerrone early.
If that’s the case, Cerrone will warm up. And once Cerrone warms up, I believe him to be better than Lauzon just about everywhere. (Prediction: Donald Cerrone)
Harvey Leonard: Hopefully this is an entertaining fight for both men to bow out with. While “Cowboy” is inherently the better fighter, he certainly can’t take shots like he used to, and it’s clear that pressure has become his enemy. Although I’d expect a long fight to benefit Cerrone, it seems clear that Lauzon knows that and is targeting a quick start. With that in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised if an aggressive Lauzon hurts and finishes “Cowboy” relatively early. (Prediction: Joe Lauzon)
Andrew Starc: A victory for Donald Cerrone here will be his 24th in the UFC, making him the winningest fighter in the promotion’s history. But it would also be his first in seven fights. Can the 39-year-old Cerrone get back in the win column? I don’t think so.
The wear and tear “Cowboy” has sustained over his career has well and truly caught up to him. While Joe Lauzon hasn’t fought since 2019, and his résumé isn’t nearly as impressive as Cerrone’s, I think he gets it done. (Prediction: Joe Lauzon)
Consensus: 2-1 Lauzon
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Getty Images
Clyde Aidoo: With Rua only losing one fight out of his last four Octagon appearances while Saint Preux has dropped three of his last four, Rua has looked better in recent years. However, we haven’t seen Rua compete since 2020 and he’s now hit 40, so it’s difficult to project how he’ll look in his return this weekend.
For me, this fight is a toss-up. And when that’s the case, I’ll go with the fighter who’s already proven he could beat the opponent at hand, in this case, that would be Saint Preux. (Prediction: Ovince Saint Preux)
Harvey Leonard: I think this one will be an uphill battle for Rua from the start. While “OSP” is on a poor run of form, losing consecutive fights via KO, a finish on the feet is unlikely to be a worry for him this time around. It’s always tough to predict when two veterans collide, but it seems Saint Preux just has more left in him. If he can avoid being bogged down by Rua’s wrestling, I’d expect a TKO or KO to come à la “OSP” vs. “Shogun” 1, or a submission when a hurt Rua changes levels. (Prediction: Ovince Saint Preux)
Andrew Starc: When these two met in 2014, Ovince St. Preux got the KO in just 34 seconds. There’s been a lot of water under the bridge for the duo since then, however. Saint Preux has lost three of his last four, with his last victory coming against Alonzo Menifield in 2020.
Maurício Rua, meanwhile, has been inactive since November 2020, when he lost via submission to Paul Craig. St. Preux is the betting favorite, but I’m predicting the 40-year-old Rua will wind back the clock and get the win. (Prediction: Maurício Rua)
Consensus: 2-1 Saint Preux
Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson
Tony Ferguson, Michael Chandler
Clyde Aidoo: If this fight took place three years ago, I’d side with El Cucuy with a decent level of confidence. But it’s difficult to do so in 2022.
I can see Chandler winning one of two ways. He could use his speed advantage and explosiveness to potentially run through Ferguson, whose chin and durability may never be the same again after being brutally pummeled by Gaethje two years ago. Or, Chandler could put his wrestling background to good use against Ferguson, as Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush did before him.
Ferguson claims to have gone back to his wrestling roots in preparation for this fight. If his takedown defense holds up and he can weather the first-round storm of Chandler, then this fight could very well be Ferguson’s to win. But those are two big ifs that are hard to bank on in 2022. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Harvey Leonard: As much as this is a fan-friendly bout that should deliver entertainment, it’s also a crucial one. So far in the UFC, Chandler’s stock hasn’t dropped in defeat. Against Oliveira, he was moments away from the title, and his part in a FOTY with Gaethje certainly maintained his reputation.
This time, defeat would be damaging for “Iron.” Given the manner of Ferguson’s recent performances and the names he’s lost to, a setback to “El Cucuy” would create a sizable gap between Chandler and the top contenders. With that said, I expect him to prioritize the win over entertainment this time. If that is the case, he’ll have the tools to grind out the victory, something he’ll know having seen Ferguson’s last two losses. (Prediction: Michael Chandler)
Andrew Starc: Tony Ferguson’s recent slump in form isn’t news to anyone, and at 38 years old, many believe he’s lost a step. But I don’t think he’s seen his last victory in the UFC. “El Cucuy’s” unorthodox style, phenomenal work rate, and legendary gas tank could pose problems for Michael Chandler, who’s coming off back-to-back losses.
Yes, Chandler could very well put a Justin Gaethje-style beat-down on Ferguson, but I’m picking Tony for the upset win. (Prediction: Tony Ferguson)
Consensus: 2-1 Chandler
Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza
Rose Namajunas, Carla Esparza
Clyde Aidoo: Earlier, I mentioned that if a fight is a pick-em, I’m going to side with the fighter who has proven they can defeat the opponent. However, I’m not siding with Esparza here. The reason? This fight isn’t a pick-em, and it is no longer 2014.
Nope, Namajunas is now a much more patient, versatile, and lethal foe for Esparza. I can imagine her staying at a distance where she could pick Esparza apart or knock her out. Mind you, Namajunas has managed to finish two of the toughest women in the entire company: Joanna J?drzejczyk and Zhang Weili. So finishing Esparza is certainly a plausible outcome for the UFC 274 co-main event.
Esparza has made her improvements but far more subtly and incrementally than Namajunas has. Ultimately, her path to victory is still to outwrestle Namajunas as she did eight years ago. Only now, Namajunas poses an even bigger threat on the mat and is much more likely to employ tactics to stop the fight from even making it there. (Prediction: Rose Namajunas)
Harvey Leonard: Esparza’s form since 2018 has been something to behold, and her pressure wrestling and ground and pound are dangerous for anyone. And given the fact Zhang managed seven takedowns at UFC 268, I think it’s safe to say that Esparza will manage the feat at some point.
However, “Thug Rose” has great scrambles and I can’t see her being kept down long enough for “Cookie Monster” to unload with strikes or work to a finish. When the fight is on the feet, Namajunas should have a clear edge, even if it is just by landing more impactful strikes in low-volume frames. (Prediction: Rose Namajunas)
Andrew Starc: Rose Namajunas is of course a completely different fighter from the one who lost via submission to Carla Esparza in 2014. After avenging her loss to Jéssica Andrade, then regaining and defending her strawweight title against Weili Zhang, the 29-year-old looks virtually unbeatable.
Esparza, meanwhile, is on a five-fight win streak and possesses the wrestling to pose problems for Namajunas. I’m picking Esparza to get the upset victory and regain the title she lost in 2015. (Prediction: Carla Esparza)
Consensus: 2-1 Namajunas
Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje
Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje
Clyde Aidoo: This is a tough one. My mind says Gaethje wears out Oliveira on the feet after using his wrestling background and takedown defense to keep the fight standing. Oliveira may be a submission guru but he’s no Khabib when it comes to taking the fight to the mat.
My gut tells me that Oliveira has arguably more ways to win a fight than anyone on the entire UFC roster right now and that his confidence and sly knack for creating a path to victory is second to none and will be on display yet again on Saturday.
So which will I side with? I’m sorry, but 10 straight victories bleed straight from my gut, into my brain, and finally onto my pick. It’s pretty hard to bet against that track record.
“Do Bronx” is every bit as slick as he is talented, so I’m going to side with his veteran intangibles and prime form to get it done someway, maybe when we least expect it and successfully defending his title for the second time. (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Harvey Leonard: At UFC 269, I predicted that should Poirier hurt Oliveira as Chandler did, he’d have the power and finishing instinct to put “Do Bronx” away. Having been proven wrong by the Brazilian, I’m not sure there’s any basis to doubt the toughness and grit of the current iteration of Oliveira. With that in mind, and should he survive any hairy moments, I think the champ’s well-rounded game will take him to a second successful title defense, probably via submission.
Gaethje’s threat on the feet can never be counted out and a knockout could always happen, but with Oliveira’s development in the standup realm, coupled with his BJJ talents, I expect it’ll take a grappling specialist like Dariush or Makhachev to dethrone him, not the striking-heavy game of “The Highlight.” (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Andrew Starc: Written off many a time, Charles Oliveira continues to prove why he’s the best in the lightweight division. He’s now won his last 10 fights, and only one of those victories came by decision. But can he deal with the KO power of Gaethje?
While Oliveira was almost put away by the similarly heavy-handed Michael Chandler, I think he can weather the storm from Gaethje and get the fight to the ground. Despite Gaethje’s impressive wrestling, I’m picking the Brazilian to extend his UFC submission record to 16. (Prediction: Charles Oliveira)
Consensus: 3-0 Oliveira
That’ll do it for our UFC 274 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the UFC 274 undercard below.
UFC 274 Preliminary Card (ESPN/ESPN+ 8:00 PM ET)
Randy Brown vs. Khaos Williams
Macy Chiasson vs. Norma Dumont
Brandon Royval vs. Matt Schnell
Blagoy Ivanov vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Early Preliminary Card (ESPN+ 5:30 PM)
Danny Roberts vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Tracy Cortez vs. Melissa Gatto
Kleydison Rodrigues vs. CJ Vergara
Ariane Carnelossi vs. Loopy Godinez
Fernie Garcia vs. Journey Newson
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com Saturday for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 274!
UFC women’s strawweight Carla Esparza has revealed how she’s managed to bounce back to title contention and build a lengthy winning streak. Entering 2019, Esparza, who became the inaugural 115-pound queen in 2014, was riding back-to-back losses to Cláudia Gadelha and Tatiana Suarez, and was firmly out of the championship conversation. Fast forward three years…
UFC women’s strawweight Carla Esparza has revealed how she’s managed to bounce back to title contention and build a lengthy winning streak.
Entering 2019, Esparza, who became the inaugural 115-pound queen in 2014, was riding back-to-back losses to Cláudia Gadelha and Tatiana Suarez, and was firmly out of the championship conversation.
In her last five appearances, Esparza has defeated Virna Jandiroba, Alexa Grasso, Michelle Waterson, Marina Rodriguez, and Yan Xiaonan. Her most recent performance, a TKO victory over Xiaonan in the UFC Vegas 27 co-main event last May, was arguably her greatest performance to date.
During a recent interview with Dan Shapiro, Esparza highlighted the aftermath of her 2018 TKO defeat to Suarez as the turning point in her career.
After suffering back-to-back losses for the first time, “Cookie Monster” knew something had to change. After reaching “breaking point,” as she described it, the former champ went about fixing what needed to be repaired in her game.
“It’s been a long journey (back to the title). Losing the belt in a devastating fashion and then coming back, kind of like, winning a few and then losing one here and there,” said Esparza. “I kinda hit, maybe like a breaking point when I saw that I’d lost two in a row. For the first time in my career, I was like, ‘I really need to change things. Something’s not working, and I need to evaluate everything about myself, about my game. What do I need to fix?’
“I took a good amount of time after that fight (versus Tatiana Suarez)… I figured like, ‘Okay, these are my three or four major problems. First, what’s the technical aspect? Why did I lose these fights on the mat? Strategically, how did I lose these fights? Okay, I need to work on this cage work, I need to work on this and that,’” noted Esparza.
In particular, Esparza named three aspects of her game that needed improving if she was to bounce back: technical skills; size and strength; and mindset.
“Obviously, I’ve always been evolving over the years. But, specifically after the (Suarez) loss, it was just like, really needing to focus on the technical aspect of why I lost, and fill some holes in my game,” said Esparza. “I really had to go back to being a beginner… I had to go to training with my mind open, like, ‘Let’s go back to the basics and figure some things out.’
“My nutrition, I had to take a huge step at that. As many people know, I’m usually outsized weight-wise. Height-wise, always, I can’t change that. But weight-wise had always been a big issue,” added Esparza. “I had to take a scientific approach… The next step was my mental approach to the fights… taking a different approach and believing in myself more, and having more confidence.”
UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje will see the UFC Lightweight and Women’s Strawweight Championships up for grabs. The card will feature a main event between the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje. The current titleholder will look to defend his title for the second time successfully. His first title defense happened against…
UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje will see the UFC Lightweight and Women’s Strawweight Championships up for grabs.
The card will feature a main event between the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje. The current titleholder will look to defend his title for the second time successfully. His first title defense happened against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 on Dec. 11, 2021. Gaethje will try to win the undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship for the second time after losing his first opportunity against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 on Oct. 24, 2020.
UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas will defend her title in a rematch against Carla Esparza in the co-main event. Esparza defeated Namajunas by submission to become the first UFC Strawweight Champion at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale on Dec. 12, 2014. The current champion hopes to get her revenge more than seven years later.
Getty Images and MMA Junkie
UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje Fight Card
Main Card:
(C) Charles Oliveira(32-8) vs. Justin Gaethje(23-3)- Lightweight Championship Main Event
(C) Rose Namajunas(11-4) vs. Carla Esparza(18-6)- Women’s Strawweight Championship Co-Main Event
#5 Michael Chandler(22-7) vs. #7 Tony Ferguson(25-6)- Lightweight
Maurico Rua(27-12-1) vs. Ovince Saint Preux(25-16)- Light Heavyweight
Donald Cerrone(36-16) vs. Joe Lauzon(28-15)- Lightweight
Prelims:
Andre Fialho(15-4) vs. Cameron Vancamp(15-5-1)-Welterweight
Randy Brown(14-4) vs. Khaos Williams(13-2)- Welterweight
#11 Macy Chiasson(7-2) vs. #15 Norma Dumont(7-1)- Women’s Featherweight
#6 Brandon Royval(13-6) vs. #9 Matt Schnell(15-6)- Flyweight
#15 Blagoy Ivanov(18-4) vs. Marcos Rogerio De Silva(19-7-1)- Heavyweight
Francisco Trinaldo(27-8) vs. Danny Roberts (18-5)- Welterweight
Tracy Cortez(9-1) vs. Melissa Gatto(8-0-2)- Women’s Flyweight
Kleidison Rodrigues(7-1) vs. CJ Vergara(9-3-1)- Flyweight
Ariane Carnelossi(14-2) vs. Loopy Godinez(7-2)- Women’s Strawweight
Journey Newson(9-3) vs. Fernie Garcia(10-1)- Bantamweight
MMA Junkie and ESPN
When is UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje
The event takes place on Saturday, May. 7, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
The main card is expected to begin at 10 PM EST/7 PM PST. The prelims will take place four hours before, with the early prelims slated for 6 PM EST/3 PM PST. While the UFC has advertised the time, it could still change.
How to Watch
UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje card main card and both prelims will stream live on ESPN+ in the United States. However, the main card is Pay-Per-View only, with a cost of 74.99 and an ESPN+ subscription. The main prelims will also be aired live on ESPN at 8 PM EST/ 5 PM PST until the main card.
Tickets for UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje are still on sale on Ticketmaster, but that could change as the event date approaches. MMA News will provide an update on the event tickets.
Fight week for UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje is upon us, and the countdown to this spring showcase has officially begun. The UFC has released their official UFC 274 Countdown video, which features the tripleheader that will be on display this Saturday, May 7, 2022. In the main event, Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira will put…
Fight week for UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje is upon us, and the countdown to this spring showcase has officially begun.
The UFC has released their official UFC 274 Countdown video, which features the tripleheader that will be on display this Saturday, May 7, 2022.
In the main event, Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira will put up the lightweight gold for the second time as he looks to extend his incredible 10-fight winning streak. Next up for the solidified champion is the walking highlight reel and advocate for violence Justin Gaethje, who has been chomping at the bit for another shot at the title after his 2020 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov.
As Gaethje seeks redemption, so will Rose Namajunas who will run it back with Carla Esparza seven years after Esparza became the inaugural UFC strawweight champion at Namajunas’ expense. This time, it will be Namajunas entering with the title and Esparza trying to extend her winning streak to six with the reward of championship gold awaiting her.
Finally, there will be a lightweight feature bout between fan favorites Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson. Chandler and Ferguson will both attempt to put a halt to their losing streaks and no doubt put on a thriller for fans while doing so.
Here is what you can expect to see from the UFC 274 Countdown video.
“I have all the advantages over Justin Gaethje. I’m better on the feet, better on the ground, I’m better at wrestling, my mind is better than his, my spirit is better than his. I’m the champion. That’s the reality.” – Charles Oliveira
Credit: Getty Images
In the Countdown video, Oliveira’s humble beginnings and underdog roots were chronicled alongside his rise to cementing himself as the current lightweight king. And as noted in the above quote, his confidence throughout the episode was easy to detect.
“When it comes to competing, I’m a showoff. And I want to put myself in the history books as a champion of the lightweight division.” – Justin Gaethje
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
You can’t talk about a Justin Gaethje fight without making mention of the entertainment and violence factor that is always present when he takes the Octagon. But what was spotlighted even more in this episode is Gaethje’s desire to make the most of this second chance and become a UFC world champion.
“Fighters will never admit that they have quit or whatever, but that was the first time I quit.” – Rose Namajunas
In the episode, a vulnerable Rose Namajunas opens up about her loss to Esparza seven years ago. She and her coach/fiancé Pat Barry were very reflective about the experience and discussed the growth “Thug Rose” has experienced since then en route to becoming a confident champion ahead of UFC 274.
“I’m a bigger, better version of the Carla that fought Rose seven years ago.” – Carla Esparza
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Former titleholder Carla Esparza spoke about paying her dues to make it back to the UFC title conversation and was also upfront about her game plan coming into her rematch against Namajunas.
“I’m going to be too sharp, too composed. I think he’s always there to be hit. I think he keeps his head right where I’m gonna want it. I’m going to be able to lad big shots. One of those shots is going to land right on the button, and Tony goes out.” – Michael Chandler
Credit: Getty Images
Michael Chandler is brimming with confidence ahead of his fight with Tony Ferguson. In the video, he also discusses what will be different about his approach to this fight compared to his last two Octagon outings that ended in defeat.
“I’ve been to the top. I’ve been to the bottom. But I don’t want to lose again.” – Tony Ferguson
Tony Ferguson revealed that he went back to his wrestling roots in preparation for his Octagon return. In the video, we get a glimpse into Ferguson’s covert training habits as of late and his determination to right the ship of his career beginning with his first outing of 2022.
UFC 274 comes to you from The Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. You can view the full lineup for the card below followed by the UFC’s official Countdown video. And be sure to stick with MMA News this fight week for all the latest updates regarding UFC 274!
(card and bout order subject to change)
UFC 274 Main Card (10:00 PM ET)
UFC Lightweight Championship Bout: Charles Oliveira (c) vs. Justin Gaethje
UFC Strawweight Championship Bout: Rose Namajunas (c) vs. Carla Esparza
Rose Namajunas believes she’s clearly the best in her division and looks to solidify her status as the greatest strawweight in women’s mixed martial arts history. UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas will be facing Carla Esparza in a rematch eight years in the making since their first encounter. ‘Thug’ Rose took on Esparza in […]
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