Carla Esparza is definite that her MMA profession shall be over for good when Saturday’s UFC 307 battle vs. Tecia Pennington involves an finish.
Former two-time UFC strawweight champion Esparza (19-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC) will return to competitors for the primary time since shedding the belt to Zhang Weili at UFC 281 in November 2022. Her prolonged hiatus had a life-altering goal as Esparza gave delivery to her first baby, Donovan, who lately celebrated his 1st birthday.
Esparza mentioned it was at all times the objective to step again within the octagon after motherhood, however she didn’t know for a way lengthy. Her return vs. Pennington (13-7 MMA, 9-7 UFC) was booked in late July, and nearly instantly thereafter Esparza introduced it will be her retirement battle.
“Earlier than my final battle I knew that my final battle (in opposition to Weili) might probably be my final one, not realizing how being pregnant and labor and all the things went,” Esparza informed MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “Ideally I needed to have one or two extra fights, and simply seeing how all the things has shaken out since changing into a mother, for me, yet one more battle appeared to take advantage of sense.
“A giant a part of it was simply proving to myself that I might come again and make this occur. I completely love the game. I really like preventing, I really like studying. I simply needed to get again to it. Simply going by the camp and on prime of being a mother, they each take a lot dedication, a lot focus, and I believe it’s time to take that chapter of constructing a selection and giving my all to being a mother.”
An unlikely two-time UFC champion
Esparza made her MMA debut in February 2010. She went 5-2 to start out her profession, however then went on a tear that included changing into Invicta FC champion, profitable Season 20 of “The Final Fighter” actuality collection and capturing the inaugural UFC strawweight title in opposition to Rose Namajunas in December 2014.
Though Esparza would lose the belt in lopsided trend to Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 185 in her first protection, what occurred subsequent could be the defining story of her profession. Esparza spent greater than seven years climbing again to the highest till she was plain to problem for the belt as soon as extra.
She lastly received that chance in a rematch with Namajunas at UFC 274 in Might 2022. She received a cut up determination in probably the most maligned championship bouts in UFC historical past, however she received nonetheless. And her hole of two,612 days between UFC title reigns stands because the longest in firm historical past.
“It was enormous for me,” Esparza mentioned. “It reveals regardless of what number of instances you fall and stumble alongside the way in which, you possibly can nonetheless claw your manner again to the highest.”
Esparza certain of herself
Retirements in MMA are fickle, to place it generously, however Esparza is adamant hers will stick. The bodily value of a virtually 15-year preventing profession isn’t to be understated, and Esparza has taken her justifiable share of bumps and bruises alongside the way in which, each out and in of the cage.
She has a duty to her son now, and she or he mentioned not even the perfect efficiency of her profession would sway her determination to proceed in MMA.
“I believe (an excellent efficiency would) simply be the cherry on prime – that’ll be an effective way to exit,” Esparza mentioned. “I’d like to get a Efficiency (of the Night time) bonus for Donovan’s scholarship fund. Irrespective of how the battle goes, it doesn’t change the end result of me being prepared to maneuver on from preventing. I nonetheless find it irresistible, however it’s time. It’s time for me to be a mother, and only for my physique. It has had lots of put on and tear through the years. I’m prepared. I don’t need to depart this sport in a wheelchair or in a walker.”
Soaking in a single final battle week
Regardless of preaching warning about her long-term well being, Esparza, who turns 37 on Oct. 10, doesn’t enter UFC 307 with added nervousness about what might occur as soon as she steps within the octagon. In truth, she plans to take extra dangers than ever earlier than.
“I’ve so many enjoyable instruments in my toolbox that I haven’t received to show,” Esparza mentioned. “I’ve at all times had a mentality in my fights that I need to win my fights. I don’t need to be so dangerous. The objective is at all times to maneuver up in direction of a title battle, and in an effort to do that you just want wins. I simply had issues I didn’t need to present I had in my pocket if I didn’t must. You by no means understand how the battle goes to go, however I’d love an opportunity to sort of simply have enjoyable on the market, do some cool strikes I haven’t been capable of present in any fights earlier than.”
Esparza could get loads of probabilities to put all of it on the road in opposition to Pennington, whom she fought and beat earlier than in an exhibition contest throughout her run to win “TUF 20.” The pair meet on Saturday’s early prelim card, which streams on ESPN+ previous to prelims on ESPNews and the primary card on ESPN+ pay-per-view from Delta Heart in Salt Lake Metropolis.
It’s vital for “Cookie Monster” to embrace each second of this battle week. She is aware of this chapter of her life is over after this, and Esparza is aware of she’s going to overlook it.
“I really feel like I’ll miss the adrenaline most, being in that cage, the frenzy of once you’re in that battle, and there’s no feeling prefer it,” Esparza mentioned. “Getting your hand raised in success is rather like – that’s the greatest feeling on the planet. It’s an accumulation of all of the exhausting work that you just’ve put in. It’s a sport of high-highs and low-lows. Feeling these high-highs is actually nice once you’re getting your hand raised.”
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