Namajunas vs. Esparza 2 Slated for UFC 274
The highly anticipated rematch between of the inaugural UFC Women’s Strawweight world title fight joins the UFC’s May card in the Valley of the Sun.
The 2nd championship contest in place for UFC 274 will see Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza challenging “Thug” Rose Namajunas for her crown. Their first meeting came at the TUF 20 Finale in December of 2014 where Esparza submitted Namajunas to edge her name in history as the divisions first champion. Fast forward seven years, Namajunas is a two-time champion who’ll be looking for her second defense of this current reign.
Esparza didn’t have a successful defense of her title and instead hit a slump losing four of her next seven fights. With her career in question Esparza dug deep and improved her game. Over the last three years the California wrestler has won five in a row against top-15 ranked competition. The exclamation-point on Esparza’s case for a title shot came when she ground and pounded her way to a TKO of Xiaonan Yan after the other four wins had come by decision.
It’s almost like Namajunas can’t get away from her matches. This will fourth rematch of her career. Over her last six-fights Namajunas has beat Joanna Jedrzejczyk in back-to-back title fights, split a pair of fights with Jessica Andrade, & won a pair of title bouts over Zhang Weili.
UFC 274 will be May 7th in Phoenix, Arizona.
The card has also gained a bout sure to bring fireworks as two of the most exciting fighters in all of MMA will meet.as former Bellator Lightweight champion “Iron” Michael Chandler squares off with TUF winner & former interim champion Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson.
UFC 274 Line Up
- Lightweight Title: (champ) Charles Oliveira (32-8) vs. Justin Gaethje (23-3)
- Women’s Strawweight: Rose Namajunas (11-4) vs. Carla Esparza (18-6)
- Lightweight: Donald Cerrone (36-16) vs. Joe Lauzon (28-15)
- Light-Heavyweight: Ovince St. Preux (25-16) vs. Maurico Rua (27-12-1)
- Women’s Featherweight: Macy Chiasson (7-2) vs. Norma Dumont (7-1)
- Women’s Strawweight: Ariane Carnelossi (14-2) vs. Loopy Godinez (7-2)
- Heavyweight: Blagiy Ivanov (18-4) vs. Marcos Rogero De Lima (19-7-1)
- Flyweight: Kleydson Rodriguez (7-1) vs. C.J. Varga (9-3-1)
- Bantamweight Journey Newson (9-3) vs. Fernie Garcia (10-1)
- Flyweight: Brandon Royval (13-6) vs. Matt Schnell (15-6)
- Lightweight: Michael Johnson (19-7) vs. Alan Patrick (15-3)
- Welterweight: Francisco Trinaldo (27-8) vs. Danny Roberts (18-5)
- Welterweight: Randy Brown (14-4) vs. Khaos Williams (13-2)
- Women’s Flyweight: Tracy Cortez (9-1) vs. Melissa Gatto (8-0-2)
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