Liz Carmouche facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Liz Carmouche
Born	(1984-02-19) February 19, 1984 (age 41) Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
Other names	Girl-Rilla
Residence	San Diego, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight	125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st)
Division	Bantamweight Flyweight
Reach	66 in (168 cm)
Fighting out of	San Diego, California, U.S.
Team	Team Hurricane Awesome
Trainer	Manolo Hernandez
Rank	Black belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Yellow belt in American Kenpo
Years active	2010–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	32
Wins	24
By knockout	10
By submission	6
By decision	8
Losses	8
By submission	2
By decision	6
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	2004–2009
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War

Liz Carmouche (born February 19, 1984) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. She currently fights in the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Before joining the PFL, she was the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion in Bellator MMA.

Carmouche has also fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She competed in both the Flyweight and Bantamweight divisions. She challenged for the championship title in both weight classes.

She made history by fighting in the first-ever women's MMA match in the UFC. In that match at UFC 157, she faced Ronda Rousey for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship. Carmouche was also the first openly gay fighter in the UFC.

Early Life and Military Service

Liz Carmouche was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, but she grew up in Okinawa, Japan. Her family background is a mix of Lebanese, Irish, and Cajun French.

Before she became a professional fighter, Carmouche served in the Marine Corps for five years. She worked as an aviation electrician and served three times in the Middle East. Her nickname is "Girl-Rilla," which she earned for her strength.

She now lives in San Diego, California, where she trains at the San Diego Combat Academy.

Mixed Martial Arts Career

Carmouche began her professional MMA career in 2010. She quickly won her first three fights by either knockout or submission.

Strikeforce

In 2010, Carmouche joined the Strikeforce promotion. She won her first two fights there. In March 2011, she got a chance to fight for the Women's Bantamweight Championship against Marloes Coenen. Even though she fought well, she lost the match in the fourth round. She had one more fight in Strikeforce, which she lost by decision.

Invicta Fighting Championships

In 2012, Carmouche fought twice for Invicta Fighting Championships, an all-female MMA promotion. She won both fights impressively. She defeated Ashleigh Curry by TKO and Kaitlin Young by submission.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

Carmouche joined the UFC in 2013. She was part of a historic moment when she fought Ronda Rousey in the first-ever women's fight in the UFC. The fight was for the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship at UFC 157. Carmouche almost won early with a choke, but Rousey escaped and won the fight.

After the historic match, Carmouche continued to compete in the UFC.

• She defeated Jéssica Andrade by TKO for her first UFC win.
• She had tough fights against Alexis Davis and Miesha Tate, losing both by decision.
• She won fights against Lauren Murphy and Katlyn Chookagian.

Move to Flyweight

Carmouche later moved to the flyweight division. In August 2019, she fought Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship. She lost the fight by unanimous decision. The UFC released Carmouche from her contract in December 2019.

Bellator MMA

In December 2019, Carmouche signed with Bellator MMA. She won her first three fights in the promotion.

Becoming a Champion

On April 22, 2022, Carmouche fought Juliana Velasquez for the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship. She won the fight in the fourth round by TKO, becoming the new champion.

Carmouche successfully defended her title three times:

• In a rematch against Juliana Velasquez on December 9, 2022, she won by submission.
• Against DeAnna Bennett on April 21, 2023, she won by submission.
• Against Ilima-Lei Macfarlane on October 7, 2023, she won by TKO.

Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Carmouche joined the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in 2024. In her first PFL fight on April 4, 2024, she defeated Juliana Velasquez for a third time. She then beat Kana Watanabe by submission on June 13, 2024.

On August 2, 2024, she fought Taila Santos in the semifinals of the PFL tournament but lost by unanimous decision.

Carmouche then entered the 2025 PFL Women's Flyweight Tournament. She won her quarterfinal match against Ilara Joanne by TKO on April 11, 2025. She also won her semifinal match against Elora Dana by unanimous decision on June 20, 2025.

Championships and Awards

• Bellator MMA
  • Bellator Women's Flyweight World Champion (One time)
    • Three successful title defenses
• WMMA Press Awards
  • 2010 Newcomer of the Year
• Fight Matrix
  • 2010 Female Rookie of the Year

Personal Life

Carmouche is known for being a trailblazer in women's MMA. She has a tattoo on her left side that represents the Chinese zodiac symbols of her mother and sister.

Mixed Martial Arts Record

See also

In Spanish: Liz Carmouche para niños

• List of current Bellator fighters
• List of female mixed martial artists