The Ultimate Fighting championship has announced a new fight between a former title challenger in Claudia Gadelha, and a former champion in Carla Esparza.
The two top female strawweights have been booked for UFC 225, on June 9.
Carla Esparza is currently in the midst of a resurgence.
After losing her world title to Joanna Jedrzejczyk In March of 2015, she would take more than year off from competition. She returned only once in 2016 with a win over Julian Lima. However 2017 was her year, having fought three times and defeating the division’s top prospect in Cynthia Calvillo in her latest fight.
Gadelha has had a somewhat similar road, though she’s been more active than Esparza in recent years.
She lost her world title shot to Joanna, but bounced back with two impressive wins. In her latest fight she was outclassed by Jessica Andrade, and took a much needed break from competition. That break though, appears to be over.
Here’s the UFC’s official announcement:
JUST ANNOUNCED: @ClaudiaGadelha_ takes on @CarlaEsparza1 in the Windy City at #UFC225
JUST ANNOUNCED: @ClaudiaGadelha_ takes on @CarlaEsparza1 in the Windy City at #UFC225❗️ pic.twitter.com/Z6AdLjnpwW
— UFC (@ufc) February 15, 2018
