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| name = Carla Esparza
| other_names = Cookie Monster
| image = Carla Esparza 2022 01.pngjpg
| image_size =
| alt = Carla Esparza
| caption = Carla Esparza at [[UFC 228]]in Weigh-In2022
| birth_name = Carla Kristen Esparza
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|10|10|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Torrance, California]], US
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{{MedalSport | [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Championship (Jiu Jitsu)|Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championships]]}}
{{MedalSilver|2013 California|-58 kg (Blue)}}<ref name=":0" />
}}
'''Carla Kristen Esparza''' (born October 10, 1987)<ref>[http://boxing.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/boxingnvgov/content/results/2017_Results/12-30-17MMA_REVISED.pdf Mixed martial arts show results Date: December 30, 2017]</ref> is an American professional [[Mixed martial arts|mixed martial artist]] and [[wrestler]] who competes in the Strawweight division of the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] (UFC), in which she is the former two-time [[UFC Women's Strawweight Championship|UFC Women's Strawweight Champion]]. Esparza was the first [[List of UFC champions#Women's Strawweight Championship|UFC Strawweight Champion]], the first [[Invicta Fighting Championships#Strawweight Championship|Invicta FC Strawweight Champion]], and was generally considered the best Strawweight fighter in the world during both title reigns.<ref>{{cite news|author=Thomas Gerbasi|title=UFC Magazine: Carla Esparza Profile|url=http://www.ufc.com/news/UFC-Magazine-Carla-Esparza-UFC185?id=|work=UFC.com|date=2015-03-11|accessdate=2016-07-16}}</ref><ref name=sc>{{cite news|author=Kevin Iole|title=Carla Esparza dominates Rose Namajunas to win UFC strawweight title|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/carla-esparza-dominates-rose-namajunas-to-win-ufc-strawweight-title-070028107.html|work=Yahoo!|date=2014-12-13|accessdate=2016-07-16}}</ref> She first earned the UFC championship by winning a 16-woman tournament that was televised on the reality series ''[[The Ultimate Fighter]]''. She also competed in [[Bellator MMA]]'s first women's tournament.
 
==Amateur and collegiate wrestling==
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On December 2, 2011, Esparza made her XFC debut against [[Felice Herrig]] at ''[[Xtreme Fighting Championships#XFC 15: Tribute|XFC 15: Tribute]]'' in Tampa, Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmarising.com/news/2011/10/13/carla-esparza-vs-felice-herrig-announced-for-xfc-15/|title=Carla Esparza vs Felice Herrig Announced For XFC 15|publisher=MMARising.com|date=2011-10-13|accessdate=2012-10-14}}</ref> She defeated Herrig via unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmarising.com/articles/2011/12/02/carla-esparza-defeats-felice-herrig-in-xfc-15-co-feature/|title=Carla Esparza Defeats Felice Herrig In XFC 15 Co-Feature|publisher=MMARising.com|date=2011-12-02|accessdate=2012-10-14}}</ref>
 
Three months later, Esparza was scheduled to face Angela Magana at ''Pandemonium VI'' for the MEZ Sports women's flyweight title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmarising.com/news/2011/12/27/carla-esparza-vs-angela-magana-title-fight-planned-for-march/|title=Carla Esparza vs Angela Magana Title Fight Planned For March|publisher=MMARising.com|date=2011-12-27|accessdate=2012-10-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/pressreleases/Pandemonium-IV-Returns-to-Riverside-MMA-card-to-be-streamed-live-on-Sherdog-39941|title=Pandemonium IV Returns to Riverside MMA card to be streamed live on Sherdog|publisher=Sherdog.com|date=2012-02-03|accessdate=2012-10-14}}</ref> Unfortunately, Magana was involved in a [[Traffic collision|car accident]] on the day of the fight while in transit to the [[List of convention and exhibition centers#California|Riverside Convention Center]], where the event was being staged.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngzd-3Jwbbc|title=Carla Esparza Interview|publisher=YouTube.com|date=2012-03-03|accessdate=2012-10-14}}</ref> Magana re-broke her back in the collision and was unable to compete in the fight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pennyjomma.net/2012/03/04/for-the-second-time-female-mma-fighter-angela-magana-has-broken-her-back/|title=Update: For the Second Time Female MMA Fighter Angela Magana has Broken her Back|publisher=PennyJoMMA.net|date=2012-03-04|accessdate=2012-10-14|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222154228/http://pennyjomma.net/2012/03/04/for-the-second-time-female-mma-fighter-angela-magana-has-broken-her-back/#|archive-date=2013-02-22|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
===Invicta FC===
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===''The Ultimate Fighter''===
On December 11, 2013, it was announced that Esparza was signed by the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] (UFC) along with 10 other strawweight fighters to compete on season 20 of ''The Ultimate Fighter'', which would crown the first ever UFC Strawweight Champion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmainsider.net/13572/ufc-announce-plans-for-strawweight-division-with-tuf-20-signings-of-several-invicta-fc-roster-confirmed|title=UFC Announce Plans for Strawweight Division with TUF 20, Signings of Several Invicta FC Roster Confirmed|publisher=MMAInsider.net|author=Dave Reid|date=2013-12-11|accessdate=2013-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212021107/http://mmainsider.net/13572/ufc-announce-plans-for-strawweight-division-with-tuf-20-signings-of-several-invicta-fc-roster-confirmed#|archive-date=2013-12-12|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
Esparza was the top seed in the tournament. She faced Angela Hill in the preliminary round and won via submission in the first round. In the quarterfinal round, she faced [[Tecia Torres]] and won the fight via majority decision.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Brian |title=TUF 20: Carla Esparza outlasts Tecia Torres, faces Jessica Penne in semifinal |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2014/12/03/tuf-20-carla-esparza-outlasts-tecia-torres-faces-jessica-penne-in-semifinal/ |website=dailynews.com |date=3 December 2014 |access-date=17 April 2021}}</ref> She then faced teammate [[Jessica Penne]] in the semifinal, and won by unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Raimondi |first1=Marc |title=Rose Namajunas, Carla Esparza advance to first UFC women's strawweight title fight |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2014/12/10/7375029/rose-namajunas-carla-esparza-advance-to-first-ufc-womens-strawweight |website=mmafighting.com |date=10 December 2014 |access-date=17 April 2021}}</ref>
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====Rebound====
[[File:Carla Esparza.png|230px|thumb|Carla Esparza at [[UFC 228]] Weigh-In]]
Esparza returned at [[UFC 197]] on April 23, 2016, defeating [[Juliana Lima]] via unanimous decision. Esparza, who stepped in for [[Jessica Aguilar]], noted, "I took this fight semi-last minute, and I kind of wanted it that way too. Even though I wasn't in the best shape I wanted to be, I just kind of wanted to avoid the stress of a long camp." She also stated, "It's a huge relief off my shoulders to go out there and get my hand raised."<ref>{{cite news|author=Dan Stupp|title=Ex-champ Carla Esparza discusses why she nixed media, full camp prior to UFC 197 win |url=http://mmajunkie.com/2016/04/ex-champ-carla-esparza-discusses-why-she-nixed-media-full-camp-prior-to-ufc-197-win|work=mmajunkie.com|date=2016-04-24|accessdate=2016-07-16}}</ref>
 
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In her first defense, Esparza faced [[Zhang Weili]] on November 12, 2022, at [[UFC 281]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Damon |date=2022-08-18 |title=Carla Esparza to defend strawweight title against Zhang Weili at UFC 281 |url= https://www.mmafighting.com/platform/amp/2022/8/18/23311558/carla-esparza-to-defend-strawweight-title-against-zhang-weili-at-ufc-281 |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=MMA Fighting |language=en}}</ref> She lost the bout and the belt by way of a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dewar |first=Val |date=2022-11-13 |title=UFC 281: Zhang Weili Impresses, Regains Title by Submitting Carla Esparza |url=https://cagesidepress.com/2022/11/13/ufc-281-zhang-weili-regains-title-by-choking-out-carla-esparza/ |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=Cageside Press |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
====Retirement bout====
In her final bout before retirement, Esparza is scheduled to face [[Tecia Pennington]] on October 5, 2024 at [[UFC 307]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/08/ufc-307-news-carla-esparza-announces-retirement-fight-women-mma-champion-salt-lake-city|title=Former champ Carla Esparza says UFC 307 vs. Tecia Pennington is her retirement fight|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=MMA Junkie Staff|date=2024-08-02|access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref>
 
== Grappling career==
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**[[List of UFC bonus award recipients|Fight of the Night]] (One time) {{small| vs. [[Alexa Grasso]]}}<ref name="UFConESPN+17" />
**[[List of UFC bonus award recipients|Performance of the Night]] (Two times) {{small| vs. [[Rose Namajunas]] 1 and [[Yan Xiaonan]]}}<ref name=tuff20b /><ref name="UFN188"/>
**Tied ([[Joanna Jedrzejczyk]] & [[AngelaJéssica HillAndrade]]) for second [[List_of_UFC_records#Most_wins_-_By_division|most wins in the UFC Women's Strawweight division history]] (10)<ref name="ufwwsw"/>
**Tied ([[Jéssica Andrade]]) for fifth most bouts in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (15)<ref name="ufwwsw"/>
**[[List_of_UFC_records#Most_Takedowns_Landed_-_By_division|Most takedowns landed in the UFC Women's Strawweight division history]] (44)
**Tied ([[Yan Xiaonan]], [[Tatiana Suarez]] & [[Loopy Godinez]]) for the second longest win streak in UFC Women's Strawweight division history (6)<ref name="ufwwsw">{{cite web|url=http://statleaders.ufc.com/?fighter_status=0&weight_class=WSW|title=UFC Fighter Stats - Women's Strawweight|author=UFC|publisher=UFC|date=November 11, 2023}}</ref>
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