It feels exceptionally rare when the opportunity for a title fight comes along with the kind of extended, meaningful history like the shared narrative between Rose Namajunas and Carla Esarpza. The two women first met in 2014, at the Ultimate Fighter Season 20 finale.
Even then, Esparza was already considered one of the more seasoned vets in the tournament set on crowning the UFC’s first strawweight championship. For her part, Namajunas entered the TUF season with just three pro bouts to her name. When they first fought for UFC gold, Esparza was 10-2, and Namajunas 2-1.
Esparza won the belt that first time around, only to lose it a few months later to surging star Joanna Jedrzejczyk.