Carla Esparza Defends Title at UFC 185 giving the card two title fights since Anthony Pettis is putting his belt on the line against Rafael dos Anjos.
Carla Esparza Defends Title against current number on contender Joanna Jedrzejczyk who earned her shot at the title with a decision win over Claudia Galdelha.
This will be the first time Carla Esparza Defends Title since capturing the title at the conclusion of the all female season of TUF by taking out Rose Namajuanas to become the first UFC Strawweight womens champion. She was the odds on favorite to win after coming in to the UFC as the former Invicta FC champion. Jedrzejczyk is undefeated with more wins in the Octagon with two fights so far in the Octagon.
That is not the only fight announced for the card with two veteran Lightweights taking each other on in a bid to keep their jobs. Ross Pearson and Sam Stout return from losses to try and capture a win and continue to fight in the UFC.
Pearson returned to the Lightweight division after a stint at 145, and the choice seemed smart. He took out George Sotiropolous and Ryan Couture out by TKO and then he had a No Contest in a bout with Melvin Guillard. The two were supposed to rematch but an injury switched Pearson to facing off with TUF winner and former title challenger Diego Sanchez. Nearly anyone thought that Pearson won but somehow Sanchez pulled out a split decision win. He went on to face Gray Maynard but was dispatched by TKO when facing off with Al Iaquinta. Now, he is 1-2 in his last three fights.
Sam Stout is in a similar place with having traded wins and losses in his last eight fights. That was preceded by a UFCC best 4-1 run. is best days may be behind him since he was finished in his last two losses being submitted James Krause and knocked out by KJ Noons. His only win in that span was over Cody McKenzie which does not account for too much. Now, they will be on the same card that Carla Esparza defends title