Is Esparza the first former champ that comes back on the prelims?

[Me&MrJones]

After losing her belt she's finally back but not on the main card though. She's probably the first former champion that comes back on the prelim. While the women she finished to get the belt, Rose Namajunas, was a co-main last week.

Has this ever happened before?

 

[P0rkchop]

Well I didn't even know who she / he is

 

[dennisS66]

comes and back in the same sentence...epic!

 

[Me&MrJones]

comes and back in the same sentence...epic!

That's how we roll over here. We do it all.

 

[mikenason]

She looked amateur in her title defense.

 

[coq]

It's fitting given that she's probably the worst UFC champion of all time.

 

[Me&MrJones]

It's fitting given that she's probably the worst UFC champion of all time.

I think McGregor might beat that when he faces Edgar, will be another record.

 

[Sonny Qc]

Better question, do you want her on the main card?...

 

[Hotei]

Better question, do you want her on the main card?...

Yeah.
This happens when you give away your belt to a reality show.

 

[Me&MrJones]

Better question, do you want her on the main card?...

Point is she was the champion and now she's on the prelim. That's rare. Should unranked Rodriguez vs unranked Fili be on the main over her? I don't know.

 

[El_Dyablo619]

i"ll be surprised if she makes weight imo

 

[Streeter]

She got a nice ass tho

 

[KB Warrior]

 

[A_bomb47]

Yeah.
This happens when you give away your belt to a reality show.

She was the Invicta champion. It's not like she's some can.

 

[kimocomplex]

has more to do with being late replacement

 

[daltonames]

Her last fight was one of the saddest things I've ever seen. Getting blasted again and again shooting for takedown that wasn't even close. Was really sad.

 

[HUGHPHUG]

Pretty sure it has happened more than once. Without looking it up I recall Thales Leites on the prelims after the Anderson fight

 

[snugglecakes]

war cookie monster

 

[BeardotheWeirdo]

Not quite the same but Arlovski co-headlined UFC 70 (2 fights after his last title-defense) then was put on the prelims against Jake O'Brien in his next fight, because he refused to re-sign with the UFC.

That's the closest I can think of, off the top of my head.

 

[HHJ]

I hope she does well so youse can stop shitting on the poor woman for no reason. Losing to Joanna Champion just makes her like everyone else in the division.