Carla Esparza

Carla Esparza Instagram – 3 weeks until I step into the cage for the final time, and I’m just reflecting back on all of the years. I feel so fortunate to have been working with @colinoyama from day 1 of my career about 18/19 years ago, about half my life (some of my teammates were still in diapers 😂). Coach Oyama has been a mentor, coach, and like a second dad. He has helped guide me as a fighter and as a person, I 100% would not be where I am today without him. Still to this day I find myself learning so much from him. Of course, it takes a strong will, hard work, and discipline to accomplish great things in this sport, but it also takes the proper guidance to get you there. We win and lose together, and he’s been there with me from the bottom, to the top, to the bottom and built our way back to the top. Coach Oyama has built many champions, but is so much more than that. I have seen him looking out for so many people over the years, but he doesn’t brag or even talk about all that he does. He’s a little rough around the edges (though he claims he’s a teddy bear 🧸 😂), but has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know.
I reflect back not only on the big shows and all of the championships, but the small shows in the middle of nowhere. Eating frozen custard in -10 North Dakota, watching tumble weeds blow through the windy streets in New Mexico, ordering 20 things post weigh ins then asking what coach wanted😅, haunted hotels, are all of the little memories that I cherish. Thanks for everything Coach! 1 final walk #UFC307 #TeamOyama | Posted on 14/Sep/2024 04:06:28