Carla Esparza Speaks Out Following UFC 281 Loss To Zhang Weili

Former two-time UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza is remaining positive following her loss to Zhang Weili at UFC 281. Esparza lost to Weili in the UFC 281 co-main event on Saturday in New York City. After a back-and-forth first round that featured…

Former two-time UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza is remaining positive following her loss to Zhang Weili at UFC 281. Esparza lost to Weili in the UFC 281 co-main event on Saturday in New York City. After a back-and-forth first round that featured wild scrambles, Weili showcased her vastly improved ground game to submit Esparza in…

Continue Reading Carla Esparza Speaks Out Following UFC 281 Loss To Zhang Weili at MMA News.

MMA Fighters React To Zhang Weili Submitting Carla Esparza At UFC 281

Zhang Weili regained the UFC strawweight title with a sensational submission of Carla Esparza at UFC 281 tonight. The Chinese was dominant from the outset, getting the better of some blistering scrambles in round one to land brutal ground strikes. Then…

Zhang Weili regained the UFC strawweight title with a sensational submission of Carla Esparza at UFC 281 tonight. The Chinese was dominant from the outset, getting the better of some blistering scrambles in round one to land brutal ground strikes. Then in round two, Zhang reversed a takedown to take Esparza’s back and sink in…

Continue Reading MMA Fighters React To Zhang Weili Submitting Carla Esparza At UFC 281 at MMA News.

Zhang Weili submits Carla Esparza to reclaim UFC strawweight championship – UFC 281 Highlights

Carla EsparzaSix months removed from her not-so-celebrated UFC strawweight title win over ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas at UFC 274, Carla Esparza put her championship on the line against former titleholder Zhang Weili in the UFC 281 co-main event. With an unprecedented 2,612 separating her first world title reign from her second, Esparza walked UFC 281 in a […]

Carla Esparza

Six months removed from her not-so-celebrated UFC strawweight title win over ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas at UFC 274, Carla Esparza put her championship on the line against former titleholder Zhang Weili in the UFC 281 co-main event.

With an unprecedented 2,612 separating her first world title reign from her second, Esparza walked UFC 281 in a unique position as the heavy underdog against one of the most prolific finishers in strawweight history. Was ‘Cookie Monster’ able to implement her wrestle-heavy game or did Zhang Weili once again capture UFC gold?

Zhang came out in the opening round immediately putting pressure on Esparza. Landing some solid shots and a glancing head kick, Esparza responded by shooting for a takedown but was immediately reversed. Both women scrambled for the dominant position before getting back to their feet. Esparza once again shot for a takedown, but again, found herself in an inferior position. In the second, Esparza immediately comes out shooting for a takedown. Zhang is able to scramble, taking Esparza’s back in the process, and sinks in a rear-naked choke forcing ‘Cookie Monster’ to tap out in round two.

Official Result: Zhang Weili def. Carla Esparza via submission (rear-naked choke) 1:05 of Round 2

Check out Highlights From Carla Esparza vs. Zhang Weili at UFC 281 Below:

Carla Esparza Shares One Thing She’ll Never Do In MMA Career

UFC Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza promises to be an easy titleholder to book for the promotion going forward. Esparza will face former strawweight champion Zhang Weili in the UFC 281 co-main event tonight in New York City. She became a two-time UF…

UFC Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza promises to be an easy titleholder to book for the promotion going forward. Esparza will face former strawweight champion Zhang Weili in the UFC 281 co-main event tonight in New York City. She became a two-time UFC champion by defeating Rose Namajunas earlier this year at UFC 274. Despite regaining…

Continue Reading Carla Esparza Shares One Thing She’ll Never Do In MMA Career at MMA News.

Carla Esparza Theorizes Why SW Is “Most Stacked” Female Division

UFC champion Carla Esparza thinks she knows why the strawweight division is so stacked. UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza is getting ready to defend her title at the upcoming UFC 281 event. She will be taking on former champion Zhang Weili in the …

UFC champion Carla Esparza thinks she knows why the strawweight division is so stacked. UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza is getting ready to defend her title at the upcoming UFC 281 event. She will be taking on former champion Zhang Weili in the co-main event of the massive card. Esparza is no stranger to being…

Continue Reading Carla Esparza Theorizes Why SW Is “Most Stacked” Female Division at MMA News.

Carla Esparza: Zhang Weili Underestimated Rose Like She’s Doing Me

UFC Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza feels Zhang Weili is overlooking her and that it could lead to her downfall. Esparza will defend her title against Weili in the UFC 281 co-main event on Saturday. She earned the belt by defeating Rose Namajunas vi…

UFC Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza feels Zhang Weili is overlooking her and that it could lead to her downfall. Esparza will defend her title against Weili in the UFC 281 co-main event on Saturday. She earned the belt by defeating Rose Namajunas via a split decision earlier this year at UFC 274. Weili will get…

Continue Reading Carla Esparza: Zhang Weili Underestimated Rose Like She’s Doing Me at MMA News.