LAS VEGAS – Former champion Carla Esparza thinks a win over Yan Xiaonan at UFC Fight Night 188 on Saturday should put her next in line for a strawweight title shot. Esparza (17-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) meets fellow 115-pound contender Xiaonan (13-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a co-main event matchup, which streams on ESPN+ from the UFC Apex, and she believes the winner should “most definitely” be on deck to challenge newly minted divisional titleholder Rose Namajunas, who Esparza beat back in 2014. Before the fight this weekend, Esparza talked to MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC Fight Night 188 media day about her climb back up to title contention, her surprise in how Namajunas dethroned Zhang Weili at UFC 261, her desire to make a statement performance and much more. Watch the full video above.
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