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Top 10 most important UFC women’s main events

By Drake Riggs

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 15: (L-R) Ronda Rousey faces Holly Holm in their UFC women's bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 193 event at Etihad Stadium on November 15, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 15: (L-R) Ronda Rousey faces Holly Holm in their UFC women's bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 193 event at Etihad Stadium on November 15, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 12: Carla Esparza (top) punches Rose Namajunas in their strawweight championship fight during The Ultimate Fighter Finale event inside the Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort on December 12, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 12: Carla Esparza (top) punches Rose Namajunas in their strawweight championship fight during The Ultimate Fighter Finale event inside the Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort on December 12, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) /

4. Carla Esparza vs Rose Namajunas – The Ultimate Fighter Finale 20, 2014

It was only a matter of time before the UFC would introduce a second women’s division.

After the first-ever MMA fight to feature women in the UFC, close to two years later the strawweights were set to make their names heard.

In what would be a groundbreaking season, TUF 20 would feature 16 115 pound fighters that would all be competing for a chance at a UFC title. It was something that had never been done before and an idea that attracted much-needed attention to the longest running fight series on TV.

It was a very drama-heavy season that had a great mix of talented prospects, veterans and former champions alike.

The most notable cast member obviously being the No. 1 seed, former Invicta FC champion, Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza.

Esparza was the best wrestler in the tournament and it showed in each fight as she climbed the ladder. On the other side of the action was a young and flashy grappler that quickly became the frontrunner to win the season to become champion.

Only 21-years old, Rose Namajunas took the season by storm as she submitted all three of her opponents in impressive fashion. UFC president, Dana White would even go as far as to call her “the next Ronda Rousey”.

By the time that fight night had rolled around, Namajunas was the favorite to win and most of the contestants even agreed with the odds despite the big experience difference. The former Invicta champ, Esparza was ready to show everyone that she had been there and done that.

As the fight started, Esparza would land three takedowns at will to stifle Namajunas’ threatening submission offense. In the rounds that followed, Esparza would keep taking her down but this time holding her down as Namajunas began to fade from the pressure and accumulation of strikes.

By round three, Esparza would be able to find a submission of her own as she locked in a rear-naked-choke and Namajunas tapped out.

Although Esparza’s reign wouldn’t last, she will forever go down in the history books as the second ever UFC champion after a historic season of The Ultimate Fighter.

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