CHICAGO – It didn’t come easy – and didn’t come with the approval of the crowd – but Claudia Gadelha (16-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) scored a hard-fought split-decision win over rival Carla Esparza (13-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC).
The women’s strawweight bout, which was twice expected to take place under the Invicta FC banner, was part of the preliminary card of today’s UFC 225 event at United Center in Chicago. It aired on FS1 following additional prelims on UFC Fight Pass and ahead of a main card on pay-per-view.
Gadelha took the center to start the fight, with Esparza moving laterally on the outside. They traded punches inside before a missed kick saw Esparza slip to the canvas. The ensuing scramble was wild, with Gadelha overcommitting a bit and allowing Esparza to get inside on her legs. However, neither could control the position, and they reset on the feet.
Gadelha continued to hold the center of the cage, but Esparza found some success with a digging low kick. Then she landed a big punch over the top that left Gadelha struggling to stay on her feet. Esparza rushed forward to capitalize, and the action moved to the canvas. But as Gadelha recovered, she used a leglock to sweep to the top, where she took the dominant position. Esparza eventually scrambled back to her feet, but Gadelha immediately shot in with a takedown that saw her move quickly to side control. In the final seconds, Gadelha latched on a dangerous-looking guillotine choke and rolled to mount, but Esparza somehow survived until the bell.
Esparza was aggressive to start the second, coming out rifling punches. Gadelha was content to answer back, and the two brawled a bit in the center of the cage before Gadelha tried unsuccessfully to shoot inside. Despite missing on the first effort, Gadelha stayed with the idea and did finally score a takedown, settling firm into top position after Esparza nearly rolled through for a reversal.
Esparza landed a few elbows from her back, busting up Gadelha’s right eye before moving back to the feet, but Gadelha maintained a bodylock and was able to again trip the action to the canvas. Esparza powered through a reversal just before the bell, though she didn’t really have time to capitalize on the position.
Esparza looked quick to start the third, firing out combinations with her hands and then landing a front kick to the chin. Gadelha seemed to tire early in the round, and Esparza was able to move easily in and out of range. An ill-timed knee from Esparza allowed Gadelha to push inside and grab the body, and while she couldn’t quite move to the back, she did lift Esparza in the air and slam her to the floor. Esparza eventually got her legs inside, pushing her opponent away and reversing herself to top position, where she landed several big punches and elbows in the final minute. The two women each raised their arms at the end of the clash, but in the end, it was only Gadelha could celebrate, taking home a split-decision result, 28-29, 29-28 and 29-28 – though the crowd was not happy with the call.
“I definitely feel like this was my fight,” Gadelha said after the win. “I controlled her throughout every round. She landed a lot, but I controlled the fight.
“I am one of the best women in the world, and I want to keep improving and get another shot at the belt.”
Up-to-the-minute UFC 225 results include:
- Carla Esparza def. Claudia Gadelha via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Mirsad Bektic def. Ricardo Lamas via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
- Chris De La Rocha def. Rashad Coulter via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:53
- Anthony Smith def. Rashad Evans via knockout (knee) – Round 1, 0:53
- Sergio Pettis def. Joseph Benavidez via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
- Charles Oliveira def. Clay Guida via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 2:18
- Dan Ige def. Mike Santiago via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:50
For complete coverage of UFC 225, check out the UFC Events section of the site.