Carla Esparza, former two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion, announced her pregnancy via social media.
Carla Esparza, a former two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion, revealed on Sunday through Instagram that she is pregnant with her first child. She wrote, “Excited for this next chapter… and hoping to make my return early to mid-2024.” She last fought in November and lost to Zhang Weili by submission. It was her first title defense of her second title reign.
During her fighting career, Esparza held a record of 18 wins and 6 losses. She won the first women’s strawweight championship of the UFC in 2014 by defeating Rose Namajunas. Then in 2020, she regained the title by beating Michelle Waterson. Before competing professionally, she was a successful collegiate wrestler at Menlo College.
Esparza’s Instagram post received an outpouring of support from her followers, with many acknowledging her as a role model for female athletes. As a pregnant athlete, Esparza joins an influential group of women who have shared their experiences being pregnant while training or competing. Among them are Olympic gold medalist runner Alysia Montaño and tennis player Serena Williams.
Esparza’s announcement marks another milestone in her life as she adapts to motherhood and looks forward to returning to the octagon in a few years.