Carla Esparza
| Carla Esparza | |
|---|---|
| Born | Carla Esparza October 10, 1987 Torrance, California, United States |
| Other names | Cookie Monster |
| Residence | Redondo Beach, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) |
| Weight | 115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st) |
| Division | Strawweight |
| Style | Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu |
| Fighting out of | Redondo Beach, California, United States |
| Team | Team Oyama |
| Rank | Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active | 2010-present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 14 |
| Wins | 11 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Carla Kristen Esparza (born October 10, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Largely known for her grappling abilities, Esparza was the first UFC Strawweight Champion, the first Invicta FC Strawweight Champion, and was generally considered the best strawweight fighter in the world while holding each title. She 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.
Esparza is currently ranked the #2 strawweight fighter in the UFC. She is of Mexican, Ecuadorian and Irish descent.
Carla Esparza's foray into mixed martial arts (MMA) began when she started wrestling for the varsity team during her junior year at Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California. After winning multiple local and national high-school wrestling tournaments, Esparza was awarded a scholarship to Menlo College to wrestle under coach and former two-time Olympian Lee Allen.
In 2008 and 2009, Esparza was a women's wrestling All-American with the Menlo Oaks.
While in college, Esparza started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the Gracie Academy in Torrance under Rener, Ryron, and Ralek Gracie. She then expanded her mixed martial arts repertoire when she began training at Team Oyama during the summer of her junior year of college.
...
Wikipedia