UFC 225's Carla Esparza on running beef with Claudia Gadelha: 'I'd call roid rage'

Former UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza can’t figure out why Claudia Gadelha seems to hate her so much.

Thankfully, though, they’re finally going to fight to figure things out.

“If we didn’t have USADA in the picture, I’d frickin’ call roid rage,” Esparza (13-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC), who meets Gadelha (15-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) at UFC 225, told MMAjunkie Radio. “She’s got some anger issues.”

Esparza said the booking at UFC 225, which takes place June 9 at United Center in Chicago, is the fourth time she’s anticipated a fight with Gadelha, two of which were backed by contracts.

The first time was at Invicta FC 4, and Gadelha was forced to withdraw from a title fight with Esparza with a broken nose suffered prior to the event; Esparza went on to defeat Bec Hyatt for the inaugural strawweight title. Then a reported bacterial infection scratched a second attempt at Invicta FC 7.

A third opportunity might have come on the set of “The Ultimate Fighter 20,” but weight concerns prompted Gadelha to opt out of the reality series.

Ever since that run of near-misses, Esparza said, Gadelha has relished the opportunity to lash out, painting her as the coward in a potential fight.

“She’s always been kind of a big trash talker,” Esparza said. “We’ve had a little Twitter war, which came from nothing, back in the day.

“Even recently, she’s talked crap about me on her Instagram, calling me names. Even last year, out of nowhere talking crap about me, and right now, I think she called me a ‘dumbass,’ and a ‘little girl.'”

Undoubtedly, there will be more exchanges as the fight draws near. But Esparza is trying to stay above the fray in advance of the event, which airs main card fights live on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

A UFC 219 upset of surging newcomer Cynthia Calvillo extended Esparza’s current win streak to two bouts, and adding Gadelha to her list of victims would improve her case for another title shot. It would also bring bragging rights.

Gadelha, meanwhile, seeks redemption after a decision loss this past September to Jessica Andrade, which pushed her down the title ladder after a pair of setbacks to now-former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Esparza thinks Gadelha’s recent fortunes might have something to do with recent outbursts. Or, the Brazilian vet simply might be unhinged.

“She’s got some anger issues,” Esparza said.

Either way, the fourth booking hopefully will be the charm.

For more on UFC 225, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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