Filed under: Featured , News , UFC , Videos LAS VEGAS – Carla Esparza walked into her UFC 219 bout carrying an almost eight-year long, 17-fight pro record – not to mention the distinction of having been the UFC’s inaugural 115-pound champion. Still, she was the underdog against Cynthia Calvillo – then a 6-0 fighter who, after an amateur stint, had only started her pro run in 2016 before joining the UFC in 2017. Granted, Calvillo had looked impressive in her perfect three-fight year in the octagon. However, considering her own accolades, Esparza wouldn’t have exactly been crazy in carrying a chip on her shoulder as she looked to de-reail of a hype train on Saturday. But as “The Cookie Monster” made clear after taking a unanimous nod over Calvillo at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, that wasn’t the case. “People kind of say that,” Esparza told reporters during a post-fight press conference.
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Carla Esparza thinks she belongs in title conversation, but game for whatever UFC wants – MMA Junkie