Carla Esparza is not hanging up the gloves. Rumors of the former UFC strawweight champion’s retirement began swirling after the algorithm-based X account UFC Roster Watch signaled Esparza (19-7 MMA, 10-5 UFC) was removed. “The Cookie Monster” addressed her career status in a post on Instagram Saturday, refuting those rumors as she continues to recover from giving birth to her first child. “I keep receiving messages so I wanted to clear it up,” Esparza wrote. “Maybe I was removed for inactivity. I am slowly biding my time and building my body and pelvic floor back up according to my PT’s recommendation