Despite being one of the longest-tenured fighters in women’s mixed martial arts, the strawweight champion Carla Esparza has become one of the least popular champions among fans because of her most recent performance.
Esparza, the inaugural U.F.C. strawweight champion, reclaimed the belt she first won in 2014 in May by defeating Rose Namajunas. But the fight was deemed lackluster for the timidity both fighters showed, and fans have not forgotten.
At a promotional news conference at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, fans booed Esparza as she talked, even as she said she wanted to retain the belt to keep it in the United States.