UFC Fight Night 159's co-main event lived up to the excitement as two of the UFC's top strawweight contenders met in Mexico City and delivered a stunning fight for the fans. And unlike
the main event of the evening, this one actually went the distance with a declared winner.
Carla Esparza landed multiple takedowns in the first round, but Grasso fought diligently and landed some powerful punches. Esparza scored two more takedowns in the second round giving her a clear advantage heading into the third.
Sensing she might be down, Grasso came out in the final round head hunting. She actually connected with a huge left hook that left the former champion on wobbly legs, but Esparza managed to stay at a distance long enough to recover. However, the real scare came when Grasso defended a takedown and attempted to lock in an armbar, which Esparza miraculously managed to escape out of.
The two eventually made their way to their feet with about 30 seconds left to go and slugged it out until the final horn. The judges scored it 29-28, 29-28, and 28-28 for the No. 8-ranked Esparza (16-6). The No. 9-ranked Grasso fell to 11-3 with the loss.