Tag: Carla Esparza

April Fools’ Day 2020: MMA community lightens mood through humor, pranks

April Fools’ Day has become notorious for faux fight announcements, bad fighter pranks, and more.

April Fools’ Day is once again upon us.

If you’re not skeptical of any and all news you read on April 1, you’ll likely fall into a trap. It’s easy to do so.

With the coronavirus situation having most of the world on quarantine, lockdown, or both, the MMA community went a little lighter than past years. However, there were still plenty of “jokes” to go around.

Below, check out some of the MMA community’s best social media posts from April Fools’ Day 2020.

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We have a baby! April Fools Day! But no for real we have a baby! @_kydavis started having contractions around midnight, we got to hospital around 4am and Detroit Ryan Davis was born at 9:31am! He is a BIG and healthy boy! 8lbs 10oz. First I want to give props to ANY & ALL mother’s out there! Child Birth is amazing, beautiful, & terrifying all in one! Kylie did amazing and is doing great! Detroit latched on to mommas 🥛 right away.. He has huge hands & feet and favors DK mostly. But has blonde/sandy brown hair! His middle name is for my brother(his uncle) and he was born the same day as Ryan’s first born, Kimora Rhyan Lynn. (Happy Birthday Kimora) We are so blessed and thankful God is good! 👶❤️🙏

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Michelle Waterson still wants to fight Carla Esparza, hopes UFC events return soon

In these uncertain times during the coronavirus pandemic, Michelle Waterson is certain about still wanting her original booking.

UFC strawweight contender [autotag]Michelle Waterson[/autotag] was getting set to take on [autotag]Carla Esparza[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN+30 on April 11 in Portland, Ore., but now, just like everyone else on the UFC roster, “The Karate Hottie” finds herself in limbo as she ponders her next assignment.

Speaking to MMA Junkie from her home in Albuquerque, N.M., Waterson (17-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) said she hopes to be back in the octagon as soon as possible once the coronavirus pandemic has run its course.

“I sure hope so. I kinda don’t know what to expect for the near future for anything, so I’m just staying in shape,” she said. “Luckily I have an amazing house to quarantine in, and my husband is an amazing coach. So just between the two of us we’re able to get good workouts in and stay in shape, so we’re staying in shape and just waiting to hear some good news.”

The natural step would likely be to simply rebook Waterson and Esparza for a future show. But as things stand, the UFC’s main focus is on making UFC 249 happen. After that, Waterson says she’s hoping that event could spark a resurgence, with more locked in and more fights confirmed.

“I haven’t heard anything, but you know, anything can happen at this point,” Waterson said. “I know Dana is working really hard and, honestly, I think his main objective is to get this April 18 card up and going, so everything else that happened prior to that is just kinda … they’re just going to try to fill the slots and everything when the floodgates open. I’m hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. It’s all we can do.”

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Waterson had all but finished her fight camp for Esparza (15-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC) when it was revealed that her bout, and the event, had been postponed. As a result, she said she’d love to pick up where she left off and face the former strawweight champion, as planned, whenever things get back on track, and she suggested it wouldn’t necessarily be the straight-up striker-vs.-wrestler style matchup many may think.

“Absolutely, I would love to fight Carla,” she said. “Her and I have been in the game for quite a long time. She was the Invicta champ when I was still fighting atomweight, (and) she was the first UFC champ. I would love to get a crack at her and test my skills against her.

“You never know; it’s MMA. I think Carla’s been working really hard on brushing up on her boxing and trying to be more well rounded. I look forward to fighting the best Carla.”

Waterson says her gut tells her the matchup could happen in May, but with the global shutdown continuing during the COVID-19 pandemic, she joked she might even have to get her competitive fix by taking on her strawweight rival by other means.

“I was going to propose to Carla that we do a virtual fight and see how that goes,” Waterson said. “But I don’t know who we get to judge that.”

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All-time UFC women’s champions, ranked

A definitive ranking of the UFC women’s champions since 2012.

Since UFC president Dana White introduced women to the promotion in Novermber 2012, there have been some dominant champions and stars.

Ronda Rousey rose to superstardom, helping open the door for many aspiring female fighters and the possibilities that come with it. In addition to bantamweight, the UFC later created three more weight classes, including two by using “The Ultimate Fighter” to crown inaugural strawweight and flyweight champions.

With 14 UFC women’s champions through March 2020, below is a ranking of their status.

Without further ado …

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14. Germaine de Randamie (0 title defenses as featherweight champion)

[autotag]Germaine de Randamie[/autotag] won the inaugural UFC featherweight title in a hard-fought battle against Holly Holm at UFC 208, but her reign did not last long.

The Dutch kickboxer was meant to make her first title defense against Cris Cyborg, but she was unwilling to fight Cyborg because of her history with performance enhancing drugs. When the matchup never materialized, the UFC stripped de Randamie of her belt. She proceeded to move back down bantamweight

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Michelle Waterson vs. Carla Esparza booked for UFC on ESPN+ 30 in Portland

Two of the top 115-pounders in the world will square off at UFC on ESPN+ 30.

A pivotal 115-pound matchup is headed to Portland.

[autotag]Michelle Waterson[/autotag] will take on [autotag]Carla Esparza[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN + 30, the promotion announced Saturday.

UFC on ESPN+ 30 takes place April 11 at Moda Center in Portland, Ore. The card is expected to stream on ESPN+.

The fight marks the first time Waterson (17-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) will compete since a unanimous decision loss to Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC on ESPN+ 19 last October. Over the course of five rounds, Waterson was picked apart by the former champion. However, “The Karate Hottie” hung tough and survived the onslaught.

Prior to the loss, Waterson had won three straight fights against Courtney Casey, Felice Herrig and Karolina Kowalkiewicz, respectively.

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As for Esparza (15-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC), she’s won back-to-back fights. After she defeated former Invicta champion Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN+ 8 last April, Esparza edged Alexa Grasso by majority at UFC on ESPN+ 17 in September.

The inaugural UFC women’s strawweight champion, Esparza has picked up victories in four out of her most recent six bouts.

With the addition, here’s the current UFC on ESPN+ 30 lineup:

  • Walt Harris vs. Alistair Overeem
  • Randy Brown vs. Vicente Luque
  • Carla Esparza vs. Michelle Waterson
  • Tristan Connelly vs. Alex Silva
  • Don’Tale Mayes vs. Rodrigo Nascimento
  • Alessio Di Chirico vs. Markus Perez
  • Julia Avila vs. Karol Rosa

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100 of the most fascinating UFC facts from the past decade

Some of the most significant in-fight moments and records in UFC history have occurred and been etched in stone over the past decade.

The past decade of UFC action has seen a lot unfold, and it is arguably the most important in the organization’s history from in terms of evolution.

Only within this era have statistics truly come to the forefront. After so many years of fights, the groundwork for what’s viewed as meaningful and the history attached has finally been laid out. The athletes and techniques have evolved, too, meaning new methods of causing damage and finishing fights are attempted and pulled off with a higher rate of frequency.

That evolution is apparent in the history books, because some of the most significant moments and records in UFC history have occurred over this past decade.

Let’s dig into the archives.

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EVENT FEATS

Sajik Arena in South Korea

The UFC held 363 events in 159 difference venues across 26 countries over the past decade.

“UFC 243: Whittaker vs. Adesanya” in October 2019 had the highest announced attendance in company history at 57,127.

“UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor” in November 2016 sold a largest live gate in company history at $17.7 million.

“UFC Fight Night 121: Werdum vs. Tybura” in November 2017 had the most total fight time of any event in company history at 3 hours, 4 minutes and 18 seconds.

“UFC Fight Night 55:: Rockhold vs. Bisping” in November 2014 had the least total fight time of those events at 1 hour, 3 minutes and 51 seconds.

The UFC canceled four events over the decade: UFC 151 in September 2012; UFC 176 in August 2014; UFC Fight Night 97 in October 2016 and UFC 233 in January 2019.

Michael Bisping def. Luke Rockhold at UFC 199

“UFC Fight Night 55: Rockhold vs. Bisping” and “UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington” in May 2018 each featured 11 stoppage results, the most for any card in company history.

“UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez” in April 2013, “UFC Fight Night 45: Cerrone vs. Miller” in July 2014, “UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2,” in June 2016 and “UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo 2” in December 2017 each featured eight knockout results, the most of the decade.

“UFC on FUEL TV 10: Werdum vs. Nogueira” in June 2013 featured eight submission results, the most for any card in company history.

Seven events each featured 10 decision results, the most for any card in company history.

“UFC Fight Night 134: Shogun vs. Smith” in July 2018 and “UFC on ESPN 4: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards” each featured nine consecutive decision results, the longest streak on a card in company history.

“UFC Fight Night 79: Henderson vs. Masvidal” in November 2015 and “UFC 222: Cyborg vs. Kunitskaya” in March 2018 each featured five split-decision results, the most for any card in company history.

Henry Cejudo def. Marlon Moraes at UFC 238

“UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes” in June 2019 featured a total of 1,818 significant strikes landed, a single-event record for the company.

“UFC 223: Khabib vs. Iaquinta” in April 2018 featured seven fighters who landed 100 or more significant strikes, a single-event record for the company.

“UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2” in June 2016 featured 15 knockdowns, a single-event record for the company.

“UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor” in July 2015 was the only event in company history to feature two knockouts stemming from flying knee strikes.

“UFC 228: Woodley vs. Till” in September 2018 was the only event in company history to feature two kneebar submission results.

“UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre” in November 2017 marked the only event in history to feature three title changes.

Next page: General feats

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