Liz Carmouche Bio
Liz Carmouche, born February 19, 1984, is an American mixed martial arts fighter competing in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Women’s Flyweight division. She is the 2025 PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament Champion and the former Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Champion. Known by the nickname Girl-Rilla, Carmouche has competed in the Bantamweight and Flyweight divisions across Strikeforce, Invicta Fighting Championships, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bellator MMA, and PFL. She holds a black belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and a yellow belt in American Kenpo, and she trains with Team Hurricane Awesome out of San Diego, California.
Carmouche made global headlines when she competed in the first women’s bout in UFC history against Ronda Rousey at UFC 157. She is also recognized as the first openly lesbian fighter in the UFC. Her career has spanned more than 15 professional promotions and includes championship opportunities at both bantamweight and flyweight.
Early Life and Background
Liz Carmouche was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, and grew up in Okinawa, Japan. She is of Lebanese, Irish, and Cajun French descent. Her childhood in a U.S. military community on Okinawa shaped an early sense of discipline and resilience that would later influence her fighting career. She attended Okinawa Christian School International, graduating with the class of 2003.
After high school, Carmouche enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where she served five years as an aviation electrician. During her enlistment, she completed three tours of duty in the Middle East. Her Marine Corps experience built the physical toughness and competitive drive that she would later carry into combat sports. She now resides in San Diego, California, where she studies Kinesiology at San Diego City College.
Path to MMA
Following her time in the Marines, Carmouche transitioned into competitive martial arts, training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and American Kenpo. She earned a yellow belt in American Kenpo and eventually a black belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, a submission-focused grappling system. Her early grappling achievements and military fitness base helped her stand out among regional prospects.
Carmouche turned professional in 2010 and quickly built a reputation as a dangerous finisher. She won her first three professional bouts by knockout or submission, which earned her a call-up to Strikeforce’s developmental Challengers series. Her rapid rise through the regional scene set the stage for appearances on the biggest stages in women’s mixed martial arts.
Liz Carmouche Career
Early Career (2010–2011)
Carmouche made her Strikeforce debut on August 13, 2010, at Strikeforce Challengers 10, where she defeated Colleen Schneider by unanimous decision. She followed that with a third-round TKO victory over Jan Finney at Strikeforce Challengers 12 in November 2010. These wins established her as a rising contender in women’s MMA.
In 2011, Carmouche stepped up on short notice to face Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Marloes Coenen at Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson. Although she was submitted by triangle choke in the fourth round, she had dominated much of the fight. A few months later she faced Sarah Kaufman at Strikeforce Challengers: Voelker vs. Bowling III, dropping a unanimous decision.
Invicta FC (2012)
Following Strikeforce’s closure, Carmouche joined the all-women’s Invicta Fighting Championships in 2012. At Invicta FC 1 she stopped Ashleigh Curry by TKO in the first round. She then submitted Kaitlin Young by rear-naked choke in the second round at Invicta FC 2, reinforcing her finishing ability across multiple disciplines.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (2013–2019)
In February 2013, Carmouche challenged Ronda Rousey for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship at UFC 157, becoming part of the first women’s bout in UFC history. Rousey escaped a standing rear-naked choke attempt and finished the fight with an armbar late in the first round. Carmouche earned widespread praise for her performance against the champion.
Carmouche posted her first UFC win over Jéssica Andrade by second-round TKO at UFC on Fox 8 in July 2013. Over the next several years she faced a murderers’ row of contenders, including Alexis Davis, Miesha Tate, Lauren Murphy, Katlyn Chookagian, Jennifer Maia, and Lucie Pudilová. On August 10, 2019, she challenged Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship at UFC Fight Night 156, losing by unanimous decision. The UFC released her in December 2019 despite her ranking inside the women’s flyweight top five.
Bellator MMA (2020–2023)
Carmouche signed with Bellator MMA in December 2019 and made her debut at Bellator 246 in September 2020, submitting DeAnna Bennett in the third round. She added wins over Vanessa Porto at Bellator 256 and a 35-second TKO of Kana Watanabe at Bellator 261. At Bellator 278 in April 2022, Carmouche captured the Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Championship by defeating Juliana Velasquez via elbows from the crucifix position in the fourth round.
She defended the title twice, first submitting Velasquez again by armbar at Bellator 289 in December 2022, then submitting DeAnna Bennett by arm-triangle choke at Bellator 294 in April 2023. At Bellator 300 she defeated former champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane by fifth-round leg kick TKO to retain the title. Bellator’s women’s flyweight division folded shortly afterward, leaving Carmouche as the last Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Champion.
Professional Fighters League (2024–Present)
Carmouche debuted for the Professional Fighters League at PFL 1 on April 4, 2024, defeating Juliana Velasquez by unanimous decision. She followed with a third-round armbar submission of Kana Watanabe at PFL 4. Her run in the 2024 PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament ended in the semifinals with a unanimous decision loss to Taila Santos at PFL 7.
In 2025, Carmouche returned to the PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament and rolled to the title. She stopped Ilara Joanne by first-round TKO at PFL 2, beat Elora Dana by unanimous decision at PFL 6, and finished Jena Bishop by third-round knockout at PFL 9 to win the tournament. The championship cemented her status as one of the most decorated flyweights in MMA history.
Notable Events and Milestones
Carmouche competed in the first women’s bout in UFC history at UFC 157 and later became the first openly lesbian fighter in the UFC, earning praise from UFC President Dana White. She is the last Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Champion and a PFL tournament champion, accomplishments that place her among the most accomplished women in the sport.
Liz Carmouche Career Wins
Across Strikeforce, Invicta FC, the UFC, Bellator MMA, and PFL, Carmouche has accumulated 25 professional victories, including 11 by knockout, two by submission, and six by decision. She has captured major championships at Bellator and PFL while challenging for UFC gold at both bantamweight and flyweight.
Bellator Highlights
Carmouche won the Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Championship by finishing Juliana Velasquez in the fourth round at Bellator 278. She defended the belt three times, submitting Velasquez and Bennett and stopping Macfarlane. She closed her Bellator run as the final titleholder before the division was retired.
PFL Highlights
In the 2024 PFL season, Carmouche earned decision and submission wins over Velasquez and Watanabe before a semifinal exit. In 2025 she stormed through the bracket with TKO, decision, and knockout victories to capture the PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament Championship.
Liz Carmouche Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Carmouche is of Lebanese, Irish, and Cajun French descent and grew up in a Marine Corps family on Okinawa, Japan. Her multicultural upbringing and military background shaped her early discipline and toughness.
Personal Life
Liz Carmouche is openly lesbian and has a son with her wife. She has a tattoo representing the Chinese zodiac symbols of her mother and sister. She also serves as a spokesperson for Medical Marijuana Inc. on the therapeutic use of cannabidiol for athletes.
2025 Season Performance
Liz Carmouche’s 2025 PFL campaign was her most decorated year as a professional. She entered the Women’s Flyweight Tournament as a veteran contender and dispatched Ilara Joanne, Elora Dana, and Jena Bishop in successive bouts. The third-round knockout of Bishop in the August 15, 2025 final delivered the tournament title and reestablished Carmouche as a top flyweight globally.
Training out of San Diego Combat Academy with Team Hurricane Awesome, Carmouche leaned on her black-belt grappling and finishing instincts throughout the bracket. Her ability to end fights both on the feet and on the ground made her the most well-rounded competitor in the tournament field.
With the PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament Championship now on her resume alongside her Bellator title, Carmouche enters the next chapter as one of the most accomplished female fighters of her era. She is widely expected to remain a marquee name in women’s flyweight competition for the foreseeable future.