Dana White confirms Carla Esparza will get her next title ahead of Rose Namajunas

Over seven years after they fought for the UFC’s first strawweight title, here it comes Carla Esparza and Rose Namajunas will run again in 2022.

On Monday, UFC president White Dana confirmed that Esparza is expected to fight for the strawweight gold in their next match against Namajunas, although no date has been scheduled for the match yet.

“Carla Esparza,” said White ESPN when asked who is next for Namajunas. “100 percent.”

That is sure to come as good news for Esparza, who was called up for a title shot after she clinched her fifth straight win in May with a superior second-round finish. Yan Xiaonan.

Of course, Esparza also beat Namajunas in their first meeting back in 2014 when she finished in round 3 to become the first UFC champion in the 115-pound weight class.

Since that time, Esparza has remained one of the top heavyweights in the world but her recent five-fight streak has finally brought her back to the title track.

While Esparza is disappointed that she hasn’t reached the belt yet, she is expected to be next in line after Namajunas clashed with Zhang Weili in a rematch in November.

“It was obviously a huge opportunity that I not only wanted but felt I deserved,” Esparza told MMA Fighting in October. “I was so confused but just thinking back, couldn’t control my decision. me. [the UFC] make the best decision for the company. I’m sure they do it in the best interest of the company.

“I just hope that I get the next one and I sit around and wait a long time and they pull out something like this again. Honestly, that would be very annoying. “

It looks like Esparza won’t be upset that White has officially announced she’s next to challenge for the title.