Claudia Gadelha vs. Carla Esparza Set for UFC 225 in Chicago
A highly anticipated strawweight showdown has been scheduled for UFC 225 in Chicago as Claudia Gadelha will take on former champion Carla Esparza on June 9.
UFC officials announced the matchup on Wednesday.
JUST ANNOUNCED: @ClaudiaGadelha_ takes on @CarlaEsparza1 in the Windy City at #UFC225❗️ pic.twitter.com/Z6AdLjnpwW
— UFC (@ufc) February 15, 2018
Gadelha and Esparza have actually been scheduled to meet on two separate occasions in the past when both were competing in Invicta Fighting Championships. Both times injuries prevented Gadelha from making it to the fight while Esparza ended up winning the strawweight championship before moving to the UFC.
More recently as Esparza was coming back from shoulder surgery, Gadelha called her out on several occasions but the matchup didn’t come together until now.
Gadelha is looking to get back in the win column after suffering a loss to Jessica Andrade last year while Esparza has won her last two fights in a row including a victory over previously unbeaten Cynthia Calvillo at UFC 219.
Now Gadelha and Esparza are set to meet as part of UFC 225 in Chicago with a main event for the card still to be determined.
