Carla Esparza Dismisses ‘Classless’ Jéssica Andrade As A “Troll”

Carla Esparza knows she has a target on her back as the UFC’s strawweight champion, but she’s also not afraid to ignore the chatter of fighters looking for a chance at her belt. “The Cookie Monster” won the strawweight title from Rose Namajunas via split-decision at UFC 274 last May. It wasn’t the most dominant…

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Carla Esparza knows she has a target on her back as the UFC’s strawweight champion, but she’s also not afraid to ignore the chatter of fighters looking for a chance at her belt.

“The Cookie Monster” won the strawweight title from Rose Namajunas via split-decision at UFC 274 last May. It wasn’t the most dominant performance or an especially exciting fight, but Esparza improved to 2-0 against Namajunas after first beating her in 2014 to become the UFC’s inaugural strawweight champion.

There’s no shortage of fighters looking to be Esparza’s first challenger, and former champion Jéssica Andrade has been particularly vocal about how unimpressed she was by Esparza’s win at UFC 274.

For her part, Esparza isn’t concerned with what Andrade has to say and hasn’t been too thrilled by their previous interactions.

“I think she’s trying to just shoot her shot and trying to get an opportunity at the title again,” Esparza told MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn. “For me, not to be rude or whatever, but she was super rude to me, so I just view her as a troll and I just blocked her. I’m not gonna engage with her because to me she’s just annoying. I think she’s not the classiest of fighters. I just don’t want to deal with her.”

Andrade most recently submitted Amanda Lemos last April. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Andrade defeated Rose Namajunas in 2019 to claim the UFC’s strawweight belt but lost the title to Zhang Weili in her next fight. The UFC’s #6-ranked strawweight is currently on a two-fight win streak after first-round stoppages of Cynthia Calvillo and Amanda Lemos.

While there’s no opponent or date set for Esparza’s first title defense, former champion Zhang appears the likely first challenger after her spinning back fist knockout of Joanna J?drzejczyk at UFC 275.

What’s your reaction to Esparza referring to Andrade as a “troll” and choosing to ignore her comments?

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Jéssica Andrade To Fill In For Chookagian Vs. Manon Fiorot At UFC Paris

Former UFC Strawweight Champion Jéssica Andrade will step up to face Manon Fiorot in a flyweight bout at UFC Paris on September 3rd. Andrade will fill in for former title challenger Katlyn Chookagian who withdrew from the fight this week. News of the Andrade/Fiorot booking was first reported by MMA Junkie’s Nolan King. Andrade appeared…

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Former UFC Strawweight Champion Jéssica Andrade will step up to face Manon Fiorot in a flyweight bout at UFC Paris on September 3rd.

Andrade will fill in for former title challenger Katlyn Chookagian who withdrew from the fight this week. News of the Andrade/Fiorot booking was first reported by MMA Junkie’s Nolan King.

Andrade appeared to be back on the run towards a potential strawweight title shot after a win over Amanda Lemos in April. Now, she seems intent to make title runs at multiple weight classes, including most recently teasing a potential move to bantamweight.

Andrade was expected to be a tough challenge to Valentina Shevchenko before losing to her via second-round TKO at UFC 261. She followed it up by defeating Cynthia Calvillo via first-round knockout at UFC 266.

Andrade will face a streaking Fiorot who has won nine straight following her lone defeat in her first professional fight to Leah McCourt in Cage Warriors. She most recently picked up impressive decision wins over the likes of Jennifer Maia and Mayra Bueno Silva.

Fiorot also earned the UAE Warriors flyweight title over Gabriela Campo in 2020 before earning a shot in the UFC just months later. She won her UFC debut over Victoria Leonardo in Jan. 2021.

UFC Paris will be headlined by a heavyweight matchup between top contenders Ciryl Gane and Tai Tuivasa.

What is your reaction to the booked Jéssica Andrade vs. Manon Fiorot matchup?

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Jéssica Andrade Believes Julianna Peña Is Ideal Matchup To Win BW Title

Former UFC strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade is confident in her chances in a hypothetical matchup with Julianna Peña. Peña is set to face Amanda Nunes in a title rematch later this year at UFC 277. She pulled off arguably the biggest upset in UFC history last December at UFC 269, submitting Nunes in the second…

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Former UFC strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade is confident in her chances in a hypothetical matchup with Julianna Peña.

Peña is set to face Amanda Nunes in a title rematch later this year at UFC 277. She pulled off arguably the biggest upset in UFC history last December at UFC 269, submitting Nunes in the second round.

Andrade won a UFC title at strawweight and also is a top contender at flyweight. But, she has her eye on the bantamweight title in a division she hasn’t competed in since a loss to Raquel Pennington at UFC 191.

During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Andrade gave her thoughts on a potential bantamweight title fight and whether Peña or Nunes would be the more favorable matchup for her.

“In theory, it’s easier to fight Julianna, especially for what she’s showed against Amanda,” Andrade said. “I really think it was more of Amanda [losing than Peña winning], because Amanda is way better than what she’s showed. She was submitted with no hooks in, you could see the pressure wasn’t too much. But I don’t know how Amanda’s weight cut was — it was two years since her last fight [at bantamweight], so something might have affected and led to that. She got tired so quickly. It wasn’t the Amanda we’re used to watching. Maybe she will show the Amanda we know in this rematch and get the belt back.

“If that doesn’t happen, I really think it’s easier to fight Julianna than the girls at 125 and 115. I hope we get the opportunity to fight one day and it’s for the belt. I think it’s the easier matchup, no doubt. We’re used to fighting girls at 125 and 115, who are faster and have power in their strikes, and people at 135 are slower, I think due to their weight and how they move. So if you get them tired, it’s over. I get better round after round, I don’t get tired, I don’t slow down, and that would be a good key for me to beat Julianna and maybe win the 135-pound belt.”

Andrade began her UFC tenure at bantamweight, earning wins over the likes of Larissa Pacheco, Sarah Moras, and Pennington. She would go on to move down to strawweight and go on a tear, winning seven of her next eight fights following the loss to Pennington in their rematch.

Andrade then pondered the chances of her moving back up to 135lbs to challenge the winner of Peña/Nunes.

“Maybe we can risk going to 135 again in the future just so I can prove people that I really won in three weight classes, but only in the final stages of my career,” Andrade said. “It could be a cool option. Fighting Julianna could be a cool test for me. Imagine that, becoming champion at 135?

“Since there’s no one to fight me at 115 and 125, put me to fight for the belt at 135. It’s an option. I’m ready for everything. I’m living here [in Las Vegas] now, so it’s much easier. If you need me, just knock on my door and I’m in.”

Andrade returned to strawweight in her last UFC outing in April, finishing Amanda Lemos with a standing arm-triangle choke in the first round. Before that, she lost a flyweight title shot against Valentina Shevchenko but rebounded with a win over Cynthia Calvillo.

It’s unclear what Andrade’s next move will be in the Octagon, but she’s intrigued at the possibility of moving back to where her UFC career started and potentially becoming a multi-division UFC champion.

Do you think Jéssica Andrade could defeat Julianna Peña for the bantamweight title?

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Jessica Andrade Slams ‘Champion of Boredom’ Esparza For ‘Worst Fight in Strawweight History.

jessica andrade carla esparzaJessica Andrade slams newly anointed strawweight champion, Carla Esparza, as the ‘champion of boredom’ following her win over Rose Namajunas at UFC 274. Last Saturday’s co-main event was host to an odd title fight, as Namajunas attempted to defend her title for the second time against former opponent, Esparza. In what most considered a dull […]

jessica andrade carla esparza

Jessica Andrade slams newly anointed strawweight champion, Carla Esparza, as the ‘champion of boredom’ following her win over Rose Namajunas at UFC 274.

Last Saturday’s co-main event was host to an odd title fight, as Namajunas attempted to defend her title for the second time against former opponent, Esparza. In what most considered a dull affair, with some even going as far as to call it ’embarrassing’ and even ‘the worst fight ever,’ the strawweight title bout was not what most wanted.

The 25-minute fight saw the pair land a combined 67 strikes (Namajunas-37, Esparza-30), and in rounds one and two, the highest number of strikes either landed was just four. ‘The Cookie Monster’ would eventually squeak out a split decision win, which would see her claim the title for the second time, as well as making it 2-0 against Namajunas.

Jessica Andrade Calls For Carla Esparza Fight

One person who also didn’t think much of ‘the stinker of all stinkers’ was former strawweight champion, ‘Bate Estaca’. Andrade would quickly take to Twitter to share her thoughts on the bout.

“I want to say that your fight yesterday was the worst in strawweight history, champion of boredom, I can’t wait to rip your head off. Congratulations on the boredom belt, but fans of this sport want to see a massacre, I’ll do!”- Jessica Andrade

After a trip up to flyweight where she would unsuccessfully attempt to dethrone long-time divisional ruler, Valentina Shevchenko, Andrade is back down at 115lb and already looking for a fight with the champion.

Andrade did once hold the title herself, winning the title back in 2019, capturing it via a dramatic slam K.O against then-champion Namajunas, but would drop the title just 112 days later in her first defense against Weili Zhang.

Who would win, Jessica Andrade or Carla Esparza?

Rose Namajunas Apologizes Following Loss At UFC 274

Rose Namajunas has apologized on social media following her lackluster split-decision loss to Carla Esparza at UFC 274. The former strawweight champion took to her Instagram the day after losing the title to acknowledge her poor performance, but also gave credit to Esparza and thanked those that have supported her “Sorry to everyone I fucked…

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Rose Namajunas has apologized on social media following her lackluster split-decision loss to Carla Esparza at UFC 274.

The former strawweight champion took to her Instagram the day after losing the title to acknowledge her poor performance, but also gave credit to Esparza and thanked those that have supported her

“Sorry to everyone I fucked up definitely feel like a shitty human being but this will make me a better hats off to Carla and thanks to everyone who’s been there for me.”

Several fighters responded to Namajunas’s post with messages of support, including former strawweight queen Joanna J?drzejczyk.

“Don’t be sorry Champ! You don’t have to. It’s a tough business we’re in! Get some rest!! ?

J?drzejczyk defeated Esparza to claim the strawweight belt at UFC 185, but later lost the title to Namajunas in 2017 and came up short again in their 2018 rematch.

J?drzejczyk wasn’t the only former champion and Namajunas opponent to offer support. Jessica Andrade commented on the post with her own words of encouragement while also weighing in on the outcome of the bout.

“you are amazing, a true champion. this victory shouldn’t have gone to carla. I’m with you? ???

Andrade upset Namajunas to win the strawweight belt in their 2019 bout before losing to Zhang Weili in her first title defense. Namajunas was able to get the split-decision nod in the 2020 rematch with Andrade before going on to reclaim the strawweight belt with a first-round stoppage victory over Zhang.

This post from Namajunas is a notable departure from her previous comments in the immediate aftermath of the fight, where she indicated that the boos raining down from fans in Phoenix, AZ were directed at Esparza and that Rose felt she’d done enough to retain her title.

Previously undefeated in rematches during her career, “Thug” Rose is now 0-2 against Esparza. This decision loss comes seven years after her being submitted by Esparza in 2014 when the two women squared off in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter to crown the promotion’s inaugural strawweight champion.

While there’s been considerable discussion online about the scoring of the bout and no shortage of controversy regarding the decision, UFC President Dana White has already shared his thoughts on the possibility of a third fight between Esparza and Namajunas.

What do you think of Rose Namajunas’s most recent comments following her loss at UFC 274?

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Jéssica Andrade Wants “Champion Of Boredom” Esparza’s Head

Former UFC strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade wants a shot against Carla Esparza after her unusual title win at UFC 274. Esparza defeated Rose Namajunas via a split decision at UFC 274. Despite the victory, it was arguably the most lackluster title fight in UFC history, with very little output from both women from start to…

Continue Reading Jéssica Andrade Wants “Champion Of Boredom” Esparza’s Head at MMA News.

Former UFC strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade wants a shot against Carla Esparza after her unusual title win at UFC 274.

Esparza defeated Rose Namajunas via a split decision at UFC 274. Despite the victory, it was arguably the most lackluster title fight in UFC history, with very little output from both women from start to finish.

Esparza is 2-0 over Namajunas in her professional UFC career after defeating her in The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale in 2014 via submission. However, Andrade is less than impressed by her latest title victory.

Following the UFC 274 co-headliner, Andrade aimed at the new strawweight titleholder.

“I take advantage that you didn’t block me on twitter,” Andrade tweeted. “I want to say that your fight yesterday was the worst in strawweight history, champion of boredom, I can’t wait to rip your head off. congratulations on the boredom belt, but fans of this sport want to see a massacre, I’ll do!”

Andrade is coming off of a post-fight bonus winning performance against Amanda Lemos at UFC Vegas 52. She secured a rare standing arm triangle submission in the first round in her return to strawweight.

Esparza won five in a row entering the title rematch with Namajunas, including a second-round finish of Yan Xiaonan last May.

Andrade is the No. 5 strawweight contender in the latest rankings and seems intent on pursuing another strawweight title shot against Esparza later this year.

What are your thoughts on Jéssica Andrade’s challenge to Carla Esparza?

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