Liz Carmouche Bio
Liz Carmouche (born February 19, 1984) is an American mixed martial arts fighter who competes in the women’s Flyweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). She is the 2025 PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament Champion and the last Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Champion. Carmouche is widely recognized for competing in the first ever women’s MMA match in the UFC, when she challenged Ronda Rousey for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship at UFC 157.
Carmouche is also remembered as the first openly lesbian fighter in the UFC, earning public praise from UFC president Dana White for coming out. Known by the nickname Girl-Rilla, she has built a reputation for toughness, durability, and finishing ability across Strikeforce, Invicta FC, the UFC, Bellator MMA, and the PFL.
Early Life and Background
Liz Carmouche was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, and raised in part in Okinawa, Japan, where her family was based during her father’s military service. She is of Lebanese, Irish, and Cajun French descent. She attended Okinawa Christian School International, graduating in the class of 2003.
Before launching her MMA career, Carmouche served five years in the United States Marine Corps as an aviation electrician. During that time she completed three tours of duty in the Middle East, with service in the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War between 2004 and 2009. That military experience shaped the discipline and resilience that would later define her fighting style.
Her nickname Girl-Rilla was earned from a muscular physique and strength that often outperformed male training partners. She currently resides in San Diego, California, and has studied Kinesiology at San Diego City College.
Path to MMA
Carmouche began training in combat sports during and after her Marine Corps service, building a base in striking and grappling. She holds a Black belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and a Yellow belt in American Kenpo, reflecting her well-rounded development.
She turned professional in 2010 and immediately showed finishing instincts, winning her first three professional fights by knockout or submission. Those early results drew the attention of major promotions and positioned her for opportunities on some of the sport’s biggest stages.
Liz Carmouche Career
Early Career (2010–2011)
Carmouche made her Strikeforce debut on August 13, 2010, at Strikeforce Challengers 10, defeating Colleen Schneider by unanimous decision in a reserve bout for the promotion’s one-night Women’s Welterweight tournament. She followed that up at Strikeforce Challengers 12 on November 19, 2010, beating Jan Finney by third-round TKO.
On February 23, 2011, Carmouche stepped in on short notice to face Women’s Bantamweight champion Marloes Coenen at Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson. After dominating parts of the fight, she was caught in a triangle choke in the fourth round. She later dropped a unanimous decision to Sarah Kaufman at Strikeforce Challengers: Voelker vs. Bowling III in July 2011.
Strikeforce and Invicta FC Breakthrough (2012)
Carmouche moved to the Invicta Fighting Championships in 2012 and delivered two quick finishes. At Invicta FC 1 on April 28, 2012, she stopped Ashleigh Curry by first-round TKO. At Invicta FC 2 on July 28, 2012, she submitted Kaitlin Young with a rear-naked choke in the second round.
UFC Era (2013–2019)
Carmouche made her historic UFC debut at UFC 157 on February 23, 2013, challenging Ronda Rousey for the inaugural UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship. She briefly threatened with a standing rear-naked choke but was submitted by armbar with 11 seconds left in the first round. She later earned her first UFC win over Jéssica Andrade at UFC on Fox 8, stopping her by second-round TKO.
Across the next several years, Carmouche compiled UFC victories over Lauren Murphy, Katlyn Chookagian, Jennifer Maia, and Lucie Pudilová, while dropping decisions to Alexis Davis, Miesha Tate, and Valentina Shevchenko. She earned a second UFC title shot against Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship at UFC Fight Night 156 on August 10, 2019, losing by unanimous decision. Despite signing a new contract, she was released from the UFC on December 6, 2019, finishing her UFC run ranked #4 in the women’s flyweight division.
Bellator MMA Era (2019–2023)
Carmouche signed with Bellator MMA on December 21, 2019. She debuted with a third-round submission of DeAnna Bennett at Bellator 246, then defeated former Invicta FC Flyweight champion Vanessa Porto by unanimous decision at Bellator 256. A 35-second TKO of Kana Watanabe followed at Bellator 261.
On April 22, 2022, at Bellator 278, Carmouche dethroned undefeated champion Juliana Velasquez to claim the Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Championship, finishing the fight with elbows from crucifix at the end of round four. She successfully defended the title three times: rematching Velasquez and submitting her by armbar at Bellator 289, submitting DeAnna Bennett by arm-triangle choke at Bellator 294, and stopping former champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane by fifth-round leg kick TKO at Bellator 300. Her status as the final Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Champion was cemented during that reign.
PFL Era (2024–Present)
Carmouche debuted in the Professional Fighters League at PFL 1 on April 4, 2024, earning a unanimous decision win over Juliana Velasquez in their third meeting. She followed it with a third-round armbar submission of Kana Watanabe at PFL 4, before losing a semifinal decision to Taila Santos at PFL 7.
She returned for the 2025 PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament, opening with a first-round TKO of Ilara Joanne at PFL 2, taking a unanimous decision over Elora Dana at PFL 6, and finishing Jena Bishop by third-round knockout at PFL 9 on August 15, 2025, to win the tournament title.
Style and Strengths
Carmouche blends Marine Corps-level conditioning with a pressure-heavy, grinding style built around clinch work, top control, and well-timed finishes. Her grappling, sharpened under the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, is paired with a developing kickboxing arsenal that has produced growing knockout wins. She is trained by Manolo Hernandez at Team Hurricane Awesome and San Diego Combat Academy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Carmouche’s signature moment remains the first-ever women’s bout in the UFC against Ronda Rousey at UFC 157. Her capture of the Bellator Women’s Flyweight title over an undefeated Velasquez, followed by three successful title defenses, stands as the defining stretch of her career. Her 2025 PFL tournament crown added another championship to her resume.
Liz Carmouche Career Wins
Liz Carmouche has compiled 25 professional wins across Strikeforce, Invicta FC, the UFC, Bellator MMA, and the PFL, with 11 by knockout, 2 by submission, and 6 by decision. Her finishes span submissions, TKOs, and decisions, while her title-fight résumé includes championships in Bellator and the PFL.
Strikeforce and Invicta FC Highlights
Carmouche’s first major promotional win came over Colleen Schneider by unanimous decision in her Strikeforce debut in August 2010. She added a third-round TKO of Jan Finney at Strikeforce Challengers 12 later that year. In Invicta FC, she stopped Ashleigh Curry by first-round TKO and submitted Kaitlin Young with a rear-naked choke in 2012.
UFC and Bellator Highlights
Her first UFC win was a second-round TKO of Jéssica Andrade at UFC on Fox 8 in July 2013. Later UFC wins came over Lauren Murphy, Katlyn Chookagian, Jennifer Maia, and Lucie Pudilová. In Bellator, she submitted DeAnna Bennett, decisioned Vanessa Porto, and stopped Kana Watanabe in 35 seconds before capturing the Bellator Women’s Flyweight title over Juliana Velasquez and defending it against Velasquez, Bennett, and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane.
Other Wins and Performances
Carmouche also holds a TKO win over Ashleigh Curry in Invicta FC and a submission win over Kaitlin Young, showing her finishing range. In the PFL, her wins include Juliana Velasquez, Kana Watanabe, Ilara Joanne, Elora Dana, and Jena Bishop.
Liz Carmouche Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Carmouche’s early life was shaped by military service. Her family’s time in Okinawa during her father’s assignment introduced her to a global outlook that has carried into her career. Her Lebanese, Irish, and Cajun French roots trace back to Lafayette, Louisiana.
Personal Life
Liz Carmouche is openly lesbian and has a son with her wife. She carries a tattoo on her left side representing the Chinese zodiac symbol of her mother and sister. Outside of competition, she serves as a spokesperson for Medical Marijuana Inc., promoting the therapeutic benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) for athletes.
2025 Season Performance
Liz Carmouche entered 2025 as a former Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Champion looking to add another major title in the PFL. On February 18, 2025, the promotion officially announced her entry into the 2025 PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament.
She opened the bracket with a first-round TKO of Ilara Joanne at PFL 2 on April 11, 2025, then advanced past Elora Dana by unanimous decision at PFL 6 on June 20, 2025. Her tournament run closed with a third-round knockout of Jena Bishop at PFL 9 on August 15, 2025, securing the PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament Championship and cementing her standing as a top flyweight in the world.
