Carla Esparza announces pregnancy, announces delivery date and return timeline

Former two-time UFC women's strawweight champion Carla Esparza has announced pregnancy in a new Instagram post.

In the post, 'Cookie Monster' and her husband Matthew Lomeli can be seen holding up a blue baby onesie to proudly announce the pregnancy. The fighter also revealed her delivery date and a possible timeline for her UFC return:

"So we’ve been keeping a little secret for the last 14 weeks… we’re expecting! Baby Cookie Monster. Grand Entrance September 2023. Excited for this next chapter… and hoping to make my return early to mid-2024."

Esparza and Lomeli tied the knot in May 2022 after her title fight win against Rose Namajunas. 'Cookie Monster' famously wore her championship belt while walking down the aisle for her wedding.

The Californian is one of the most accomplished women fighters in the UFC. In The Ultimate Fighter season 20 finale, Esparza submitted Rose Namajunas in the third round, becoming the promotion's first-ever strawweight champion.

Carla Esparza holds wins over many high-profile fighters, including reigning flyweight queen Alexa Grasso, former Invicta FC atom weight champion Michelle Waterson, Xiaonan Yan, and Marina Rodriguez among others.

The 35-year-old was on a six-fight win streak from 2019 to 2022 before losing her championship to Zhang Weili at UFC 281. She is currently the No.1 contender in the 115 lbs division.

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When Carla Esparza revealed her favorite UFC fighter

Carla Esparza is known for her formidable grappling skills, however, her favorite fighter in the UFC is far from a grappling maestro. In fact, he is one of, if not the most technical strikers in the promotion.

In an interview with FIGHT CAMP, the former strawweight queen revealed that former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was her favorite.

Catch Carla Esparza's comments below:

During his reign, 'The Last Stylebender' was one of the most formidable champions the UFC has ever seen. The Nigerian-born Kiwi boasts wins over the likes of middleweight legend Anderson Silva, Olympic silver medalist wrestler Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, Jared Cannonier, and Marvin Vettori, among others.

Adesanya lost his championship in a knockout loss to his former kickboxing foe Alex Pereira last year at UFC 281. The duo is scheduled to meet in a rematch at the upcoming UFC 287 on April 8, in Miami, Florida.