Carla Esparza V Randa Markos: What will go down:

Can former champ Esparza reignite UFC title claim?

Inaugural Invicta FC and UFC Women's Strawweight champion Carla 'Cookie Monster' Esparza, returns to the octagon this weekend at UFC Fight Night Halifax, against Iraqi wrestler Randa Markos. The pair both competed on The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned: season, where the finale seen Esparza secure the Strawweight crown, dispatching Rose Namajunas via rear-naked choke in December, 2014. Esparza's first title defence seen Polish striker Joanna Jedrzejczyk claim the strap after a second round bludgeoning, and hasn't looked back since. 31 year-old Markos, 6-4 in her professional MMA career, was verbally submitted by Courtney Casey last time out, but holds notable TUF victories over Tecia Torres and Felice Herrig, as well as a UFC 186 victory over the recently retired Aisling Daly. Markos is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, holding 3 submission victories in her career, so her matchup against the former champ Esparza, could prove to be Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu match, who has submitted the likes of current Invicta FC Strawweight champ Angela Hill and 'Thug' Rose. Expect former division queen Esparza to have too much high level experience for Iraq native Markos.

Carla Esparza via unanimous decision.

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