Carla Esparza vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk Early Head-to-Toe Breakdown

UFC 185 will play host to the first UFC title defense for Carla Esparza.

The strawweight champion entered The Ultimate Fighter Season 20 as the Invicta FC champion and No. 1 overall seed. She confirmed that ranking by advancing to the final against Rose Namajunas. In the final, she dominated the young prospect to become the inaugural champion of the UFC's newest division.

Her challenger will be Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

Jedrzejczyk moved down to 115 pounds when the UFC came calling, and her debut went great. She was awarded with a title eliminator against Claudia Gadelha. In a tightly contested battle, Jedrzejczyk got the nod on the scorecards to earn the title shot.

The UFC confirmed the title fight earlier in 2015.

This is a tremendous striker vs. grappler matchup for the gold. And this is your head-to-toe breakdown for the UFC 185 co-main event in Dallas on March 14.

Striking

USA TODAY Sports

Esparza's striking came a long way from her time in Invicta. Her hands were noticeably better from her final Invicta FC title fight to the UFC TUF 20 finale.

But she is still not on Jedrzejczyk's level.

Jedrzejczyk is a vicious stand-up fighter. She has exceptional power that makes her a threat against anyone. She dropped Gadelha in their bout off a stunning uppercut. Jedrzejczyk mixes up the body and head strikes very well and is in constant motion.

Esparza will not want to stand with Jedrzejczyk for very long. Her hand speed alone is a huge advantage for Jedrzejczyk. Esparza can take a punch, but she won't want to do that in this matchup. It is going to be crucial for Esparza to close the distance and grapple.

This is completely in favor of Jedrzejczyk.

Edge: Jedrzejczyk

Grappling

Esther Lin/Invicta FC

Carla Esparza (top)

I read your comments, and several readers question why grappling and submissions are separated. Because MMA is so diverse and hard to break down, it is better to segment those two areas out. Grappling focuses more on the positional battles and advantages of wrestling, judo and so on. Submissions have more to do with the finishing aspect of grappling. Some grapplers are woeful submission artists and vice versa.

Now, who has the advantage in the positional battle? Esparza.

The Cookie Monster is primarily a wrestler. She loves to take her opponents down and grind them down. She keeps a good pace on the canvas with strikes.

Jedrzejczyk showcased excellent takedown defense against Gadelha, and when she was taken down she showed the ability to pop back up. It will be a tad more difficult against Esparza. Esparza is not as aggressive as Gadelha, and she focuses more on maintaining position.

Esparza's wrestling will be her path to victory at UFC 185.

Edge: Esparza

Submissions

Esther Lin/Invicta FC

As we have already established, Jedrzejczyk is a striker. It is not a surprise she doesn't get the edge in either grappling category. However, she isn't totally inept on the mat.

Jedrzejczyk has a rear-naked choke finish to her credit. It just did not come against top-line competition, and it will take a major error by Esparza to end up with Jedrzejczyk on her back.

Esparza is a better submission fighter to go along with her wrestling. She doesn't go off the wall with her submissions, but she takes the openings that are given to her. Her four submission wins are all by rear-naked choke.

I don't expect a submission in the early rounds. Jedrzejczyk will be too fresh to submit. But if this fight drags on into the championship rounds, we may start to see more holes open up for a potential finish.

Edge: Esparza

X-Factors

Esther Lin/Invicta FC

Esparza's X-Factor: Head Movement

There is no greater risk for Esparza in this fight than eating a power punch from Jedrzejczyk. Her head movement has to be on point.

Jedrzejczyk is a great striker. That cannot be overstated. Her speed and technical ability allow her to make on-the-fly adjustments. If Esparza keeps her head stationary, Jedrzejczyk will exploit it and finish the fight. I would put money on the uppercut being the best-case scenario in this matchup.

Esparza has to move her head just enough to avoid eating that fight-ending punch.

Jedrzejczyk's X-Factor: Cardio

This fight could easily end up being one where if Jedrzejczyk doesn't finish in the first two rounds, then Esparza takes over in a less-than-stellar fight. Her cardio has to be ready to go five hard rounds of defending takedowns.

Esparza will push the pace and go for takedown after takedown. That takes a lot of energy. Esparza can do just that for five rounds. Jedrzejczyk has not proven that she can. If she starts to gas out, the takedowns will come easy, and that will be the fight.

She has to keep enough in the tank for five rounds and not expend all the energy with early output and power. She will have to be more reserved.

Prediction

USA TODAY Sports

I continue to go back and forth in picking this fight. I'll probably continue to change up until fight day, but right now I favor Jedrzejczyk.

Esparza is not on her level standing, and Jedrzejczyk is strong enough to defend early takedowns. That gives her a great chance to clip Esparza in the first two rounds.

I'll go one step further and pick Jedrzejczyk to finish by first-round knockout. As Esparza enters on a takedown attempt, Jedrzejczyk will unleash a crisp uppercut that will make Esparza face-plant. The combination of Jedrzejczyk's power and Esparza's forward momentum will lead to devastating results.

If Jedrzejczyk doesn't land that early shot, I think this is Esparza's fight. Her wrestling and pressure will wilt most over the course of five rounds. Right now, I just don't think Esparza will get the chance to drag this into deep waters.

Prediction: Jedrzejczyk defeats Esparza by KO in the first round.