1. Liz Carmouche was born on February 19,1984 and is an American mixed martial arts fighter currently signed to Bellator MMA, where she is the current Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion.
50 Facts About Liz Carmouche
1. 2.
Liz Carmouche competed in the first ever women's MMA match in the UFC when she competed against Ronda Rousey for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship at UFC 157.
3.
Liz Carmouche was the first openly lesbian fighter in the UFC and was praised by company president Dana White for coming out.
4.
Liz Carmouche was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, and grew up in Okinawa, Japan.
5.
Liz Carmouche went to Okinawa Christian School International in Japan graduating in the class of 2003.
6.
Liz Carmouche's nickname is Girl-Rilla, earned from her muscular physique and strength that outperforms male counterparts.
7.
Liz Carmouche is currently attending San Diego City College studying Kinesiology.
8.
Liz Carmouche started her professional career in 2010, winning her first three fights via knockout or submission.
9.
Liz Carmouche defeated Colleen Schneider via unanimous decision after two rounds.
10.
Liz Carmouche returned to the promotion at Strikeforce Challengers 12 on November 19,2010, where she defeated Jan Finney via TKO in the third round.
11.
Liz Carmouche was defeated via triangle choke in the fourth round, after dominating two of the previous rounds.
12.
On July 22,2011, Liz Carmouche faced Sarah Kaufman at Strikeforce Challengers: Voelker vs Bowling III in Las Vegas, Nevada.
13.
Liz Carmouche was scheduled to return to Strikeforce to face Sara McMann at Strikeforce: Cormier vs Mir on November 3,2012, but the event was cancelled.
14.
Liz Carmouche faced Ashleigh Curry at Invicta Fighting Championships 1 on April 28,2012.
15.
Liz Carmouche won the fight via TKO in the first round.
16.
Liz Carmouche faced Kaitlin Young at Invicta Fighting Championships 2 on July 28,2012.
17.
Liz Carmouche won the fight via submission due to a rear-naked choke in the second round.
18.
Liz Carmouche was expected to face Miesha Tate at UFC on Fox 8 on July 27,2013.
19.
Liz Carmouche won the fight by TKO in round two, earning her first win inside the Octagon.
20.
Liz Carmouche faced Miesha Tate in the co-main event at UFC on Fox 11.
21.
Liz Carmouche faced Lauren Murphy on April 4,2015, at UFC Fight Night 63.
22.
Liz Carmouche faced Katlyn Chookagian on November 12,2016, at UFC 205.
23.
Liz Carmouche faced Alexis Davis in a women's flyweight bout on December 9,2017, at UFC Fight Night 123.
24.
Liz Carmouche faced Jennifer Maia on July 14,2018, at UFC Fight Night 133.
25.
Liz Carmouche faced Lucie Pudilova on February 23,2019, at UFC Fight Night 145.
26.
On December 6,2019, it was announced that Liz Carmouche had been released from the UFC despite signing a new contract after the failed title bid.
27.
On December 21,2019, Liz Carmouche was signed by Bellator MMA.
28.
Liz Carmouche was scheduled to make her debut at Bellator against Mandy Bohm on May 29,2020, at Bellator 243 but the bout was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
29.
Liz Carmouche made her promotional debut against DeAnna Bennett at Bellator 246 on September 12,2020.
30.
The bout proceeded as a catchweight and Liz Carmouche was awarded a percentage of Bennett's purse.
31.
Liz Carmouche faced former Invicta FC Flyweight World Champion Vanessa Porto on April 9,2021, at Bellator 256.
32.
Liz Carmouche faced Kana Watanabe on June 25,2021, at Bellator 261.
33.
Liz Carmouche won the bout via TKO within 35 seconds of the first round.
34.
Liz Carmouche faced undefeated flyweight champ, Juliana Velasquez for the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship on April 22,2022, at Bellator 278.
35.
Liz Carmouche won the bout and the title via elbows from crucifix at the end of the fourth round.
36.
Liz Carmouche won the fight via an armbar submission in the second round.
37.
Liz Carmouche defended her title in a rematch against DeAnna Bennett on April 21,2023, at Bellator 294.
38.
Liz Carmouche chose to keep the title on the line, meaning if she lost the fight, the title would have become vacant.
39.
Liz Carmouche won the fight by an arm-triangle choke submission in the fourth round.
40.
Liz Carmouche defended her title against former champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane on October 7,2023, at Bellator 300.
41.
Liz Carmouche won the fight via leg kick TKO in the fifth round.
42.
Liz Carmouche debuted with the Professional Fighters League at PFL 1 on April 4,2024 and won the bout in a third bout against Juliana Velasquez by unanimous decision.
43.
Liz Carmouche faced Kana Watanabe on June 13,2024 at PFL 4.
44.
Liz Carmouche won the fight via armbar submission in the third round.
45.
Liz Carmouche faced Taila Santos in the semi-finals of the 2024 Women's Flyweight tournament at PFL 7 on August 2,2024.
46.
At the weigh-ins, Liz Carmouche missed weight by 1 pound, coming in at 127 pounds.
47.
On February 18,2025, the promotion officially revealed that Liz Carmouche joined the 2025 PFL Women's Flyweight Tournament.
48.
Liz Carmouche won the fight via technical knockout in round one.
49.
Liz Carmouche is openly lesbian, and has a son with her wife.
50.
Liz Carmouche has a tattoo on her left side representing the Chinese zodiac symbol of her mother and sister.