Carla Esparza is asking it a profession.
“Cookie Monster” will compete in her closing MMA battle when she collides with Tecia Torres Pennington as a part of the upcoming UFC 307 pay-per-view (PPV) occasion, not too long ago made official for Sat., Oct. 5, 2024 at Delta Middle in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah.
“I can be entering into the UFC Octagon on Saturday, October fifth for the ultimate time,” Esparza wrote on social media. “After nearly 15 years as an expert, preventing the perfect of the perfect, I really feel it’s time to hold up my gloves. This alternative is made for my physique and my household; 20+ years doing fight sports activities takes its toll.”
Esparza, 36, is a two-time strawweight champion and the winner of The Final Fighter (TUF) 20, the place she defeated longtime rival Rose Namajunas to seize the glass trophy. “Cookie Monster” (19-7) has not competed since her submission loss to Zhang Weili at UFC 281 again in late 2022.
“I needed to provide my ‘Cookie Monster’ followers, who’ve by no means been there to observe me reside, one closing alternative,” Esparza continued. “It feels bittersweet to depart this sport that I like a lot, however I’m completely happy to be doing it by myself phrases.”
UFC 307 may even function the featherweight showdown between Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling. Elsewhere on the cardboard, Kevin Holland and Chris Curtis collide at middleweight, not lengthy after Jose Aldo and Mario Bautista hook ‘em up at 135 kilos.
Keep tuned for extra UFC 307 battle card bulletins within the coming weeks.
