Carla Esparza

“Cookie Monster”

MMA · Retired

19-8RECORD

4KO / TKO WINS

4SUBMISSION WINS

11DECISION WINS

Profile

Full name	Carla Kristen Esparza
Nickname	Cookie Monster
Date of birth	10 Oct 1987
Nationality	American
Birthplace	Torrance, California, USA
Lives in	Irvine, California, USA
Division	Strawweight
Team	Team Oyama
Height	155 cm (5′1″)
Reach	160 cm (63″)
Stance	Not added yet
Years active	2010–2024
Status	Retired
Pro debut	19 Feb 2010
Last fight	Loss vs Tecia Pennington, 5 Oct 2024

Details on this page were compiled from public information on 8 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile

Titles and honours

UFC women's strawweight champion (2014-2015)
UFC women's strawweight champion, second reign (2022)
Inaugural UFC women's strawweight champion; winner of The Ultimate Fighter 20 tournament
Inaugural Invicta FC strawweight champion (2013)

Background

Former wrestler who won the inaugural Invicta FC strawweight title and then the inaugural UFC strawweight title at the end of The Ultimate Fighter 20. She regained the UFC title in 2022 and retired after her final fight at UFC 307 in October 2024.

Fight history

27 professional fights. Newest first.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Time	Event	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	Tecia Pennington	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 307	5 Oct 2024	Salt Lake City, Utah, USA	Retirement fight
Loss	Zhang Weili	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	1:05	UFC 281	12 Nov 2022	New York City, New York, USA	Lost UFC strawweight title
Win	Rose Namajunas	Decision (split)	5	5:00	UFC 274	7 May 2022	Phoenix, Arizona, USA	Won UFC women's strawweight title
Win	Yan Xiaonan	TKO (punches)	2	2:58	UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt	22 May 2021	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Win	Marina Rodriguez	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till	26 Jul 2020	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win	Michelle Waterson	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC 249	9 May 2020	Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Win	Alexa Grasso	Decision (majority)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Stephens	21 Sep 2019	Mexico City, Mexico
Win	Virna Jandiroba	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs. Hermansson	27 Apr 2019	Sunrise, Florida, USA
Loss	Tatiana Suarez	TKO (punches and elbows)	3	4:33	UFC 228	8 Sep 2018	Dallas, Texas, USA
Loss	Claudia Gadelha	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC 225	9 Jun 2018	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Win	Cynthia Calvillo	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 219	30 Dec 2017	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Win	Maryna Moroz	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee	25 Jun 2017	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Loss	Randa Markos	Decision (split)	3	5:00	UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Browne	19 Feb 2017	Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Win	Juliana Lima	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	UFC 197	23 Apr 2016	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Loss	Joanna Jedrzejczyk	TKO (punches)	2	4:17	UFC 185	14 Mar 2015	Dallas, Texas, USA	Lost UFC strawweight title
Win	Rose Namajunas	Submission (rear-naked choke)	3	1:26	The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale	12 Dec 2014	Las Vegas, Nevada, USA	Won inaugural UFC women's strawweight title
Win	Bec Rawlings	Decision (unanimous)	5	5:00	Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt	5 Jan 2013	Kansas City, Kansas, USA	Won inaugural Invicta FC strawweight title
Win	Lynn Alvarez	TKO (punches)	1	2:53	Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama	6 Oct 2012	Kansas City, Kansas, USA
Win	Sarah Schneider	TKO (punches)	2	4:28	Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann	28 Jul 2012	Kansas City, Kansas, USA
Win	Felice Herrig	Decision (unanimous)	3	5:00	XFC 15: Tribute	2 Dec 2011	Tampa, Florida, USA
Loss	Jessica Aguilar	Decision (split)	3	5:00	Bellator 46	25 Jun 2011	Hollywood, Florida, USA
Win	Yadira Anzaldua	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	0:53	ECSC: Friday Night Fights 3	15 Apr 2011	Clovis, New Mexico, USA
Win	Nina Ansaroff	Decision (split)	3	5:00	Crowbar MMA: Winter Brawl	10 Dec 2010	Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
Loss	Megumi Fujii	Submission (armbar)	2	0:57	Bellator 24	12 Aug 2010	Hollywood, Florida, USA	Tournament quarterfinal
Win	Lacey Schuckman	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	2:37	NMEF Ladies Night: Clash of the Titans 8	16 Jul 2010	Castle Rock, Colorado, USA
Win	Karina Hallinan	Submission (rear-naked choke)	2	2:16	Long Beach Fight Night 8	18 Apr 2010	Long Beach, California, USA
Win	Cassie Trost	TKO (punches)	1	0:48	Respect in the Cage 3	19 Feb 2010	Pomona, California, USA	Professional debut