Carla Esparza
“Cookie Monster”
Professional record
Last 5: LLWWW
Profile
- Age
- 39 (born October 10, 1987)
- Born in
- Torrance
- Height
- 5' 1"
- Weight
- 115 lbs.
- Reach
- 63"
- Stance
- Orthodox
- UFC record
- 10-6
- Title fights
- 4
How the fights ended
Wins in the UFC10
- KO/TKO 1
- Submission 1
- Decision 8
Losses in the UFC6
- KO/TKO 2
- Submission 1
- Decision 3
UFC career stats
Striking
- Significant strikes landed per minute
- 2.19 top 96%
- Significant strikes absorbed per minute
- 2.87
Grappling
- Takedowns per 15 minutes
- 3.28 top 4%
- Submission attempts per 15 minutes
- 0.3
Next fight
In the record book
About Carla Esparza
Carla Esparza "Cookie Monster", born in Torrance, United States on October 10, 1987, is a women's strawweight mixed martial artist. At 5' 1", Esparza has a 63" reach.
Esparza has fought professionally since 2010, debuting with Respect in the Cage. A 9-2 record outside the UFC came first. Esparza first fought in the UFC at The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale in December 2014 and beat Rose Namajunas by rear naked choke. In the UFC, Esparza is 10-6 across 16 fights. Esparza first won a UFC title fight at The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale, beating Rose Namajunas, and has won 2 title fights in total.
Esparza usually wins on the scorecards: 8 of 10 UFC wins went to a decision. Statistically, Esparza lands more takedowns per 15 minutes than 96% of women's strawweights. Notable wins include Rose Namajunas and Alexa Grasso, both UFC title-fight winners.
In UFC title fights, Esparza is 2-2. Esparza has fought Rose Namajunas twice in the UFC (won, won). After 23 months away, Esparza returned at UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. in October 2024 and lost to Tecia Pennington. Before and outside the UFC, Esparza fought in Invicta FC (3-0) and Bellator (0-2).
Esparza's most recent UFC appearance was at UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. in October 2024, where Esparza lost to Tecia Pennington.
UFC fight history
-
L
Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00
UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Jr.
Oct 5, 2024
39Str 4TD 0KD -
L
Zhang Weili Title
Submission · Rear Naked ChokeFrom back crucifix · R2 1:05
Nov 12, 2022
6Str 1TD 0KD -
W
Rose Namajunas Title
Decision - Split · R5 5:00
May 7, 2022
30Str 2TD 0KD -
W
KO/TKO · Punches to Head From Crucifix · R2 2:58
UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt
May 22, 2021
27Str 3TD 0KD -
W
Decision - Split · R3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Till
Jul 25, 2020
33Str 5TD 0KD -
W
Decision - Split · R3 5:00
May 9, 2020
45Str 1TD 0KD -
W
Decision - Majority · R3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Stephens
Sep 21, 2019
44Str 4TD 0KD -
W
Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs. Hermansson
Apr 27, 2019
25Str 4TD 0KD -
L
KO/TKO · Punches to Head From Guard · R3 4:33
Sep 8, 2018
6Str 0TD 0KD -
L
Decision - Split · R3 5:00
UFC 225: Whittaker vs. Romero 2
Jun 9, 2018
43Str 2TD 0KD -
W
Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00
Dec 30, 2017
48Str 2TD 0KD -
W
Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee
Jun 25, 2017
40Str 6TD 0KD -
L
Decision - Split · R3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Browne
Feb 19, 2017
32Str 4TD 0KD -
W
Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00
Apr 23, 2016
28Str 5TD 0KD -
L
Joanna Jedrzejczyk Title
KO/TKO · Punches to Head In Clinch · R2 4:17
Mar 14, 2015
4Str 1TD 0KD -
W
Rose Namajunas Title
Submission · Rear Naked Choke · R3 1:26
42Str 5TD 0KD
Full MMA career
Carla Esparza is 19-8 across 27 professional fights in 9 promotions, since a pro debut on February 19, 2010 (Respect in the Cage). 11 of those fights were outside the UFC.
Pro wins19
- KO/TKO 4
- Submission 4
- Decision 11
Pro losses8
- KO/TKO 2
- Submission 2
- Decision 4
- Finish rate
- 42% of wins
- Longest win streak
- 6
- Current streak
- 2 losses
Fights by promotion
| Promotion | Record | First fight |
|---|---|---|
| UFC | 10-6 | 2014 |
| Invicta FC | 3-0 | 2012 |
| Bellator | 0-2 | 2010 |
| Crowbar MMA | 1-0 | 2010 |
| ECSC | 1-0 | 2011 |
| Long Beach Fight Night | 1-0 | 2010 |
| NMEF Ladies Night | 1-0 | 2010 |
| Respect in the Cage | 1-0 | 2010 |
| XFC | 1-0 | 2011 |
All professional fights
| Result | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|
| L | Tecia Pennington | Oct 5, 2024 |
| L | Zhang Weili | Nov 12, 2022 |
| W | Rose Namajunas | May 7, 2022 |
| W | Yan Xiaonan | May 22, 2021 |
| W | Marina Rodriguez | Jul 25, 2020 |
| W | Michelle Waterson | May 9, 2020 |
| W | Alexa Grasso | Sep 21, 2019 |
| W | Virna Jandiroba | Apr 27, 2019 |
| L | Tatiana Suarez | Sep 8, 2018 |
| L | Cláudia Gadelha | Jun 9, 2018 |
| W | Cynthia Calvillo | Dec 30, 2017 |
| W | Maryna Moroz | Jun 25, 2017 |
| L | Randa Markos | Feb 19, 2017 |
| W | Juliana Lima | Apr 23, 2016 |
| L | Joanna Jędrzejczyk | Mar 14, 2015 |
| W | Rose Namajunas | Dec 12, 2014 |
| W | Bec Rawlings | Jan 5, 2013 |
| W | Lynn Alvarez | Oct 6, 2012 |
| W | Sarah Schneider | Jul 28, 2012 |
| W | Felice Herrig | Dec 2, 2011 |
| L | Jessica Aguilar | Jun 25, 2011 |
| W | Yadira Anzaldua | Apr 15, 2011 |
| W | Nina Ansaroff | Dec 10, 2010 |
| L | Megumi Fujii | Aug 12, 2010 |
| W | Lacey Schuckman | Jul 16, 2010 |
| W | Karina Hallinan | Apr 18, 2010 |
| W | Cassie Trost | Feb 19, 2010 |
Full professional record from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Quick answers
What is Carla Esparza's record?
Carla Esparza's professional MMA record is 19 wins, 8 losses and 0 draws.
How old is Carla Esparza?
Carla Esparza is 39 years old, born on October 10, 1987.
How tall is Carla Esparza and what is their reach?
Carla Esparza stands 5' 1" with a 63" reach.
Who did Carla Esparza fight last?
Carla Esparza lost to Tecia Pennington by Decision - Unanimous at UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. on Oct 5, 2024.
Photo: Startup to Storefront, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
