Liz Carmouche
Liz Carmouche (born February 19, 1984) is an American MMA pioneer, Marine veteran, and champion across UFC, Bellator, and PFL. Her journey blends combat sports, military service, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and resilience.
Introduction
Elizabeth “Liz” Carmouche (born February 19, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist and a trailblazer in women’s MMA.
She was among the fighters in the first women’s bout in UFC history, challenged for multiple titles, became Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Champion, and now competes in the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Beyond fighting, Carmouche is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, an openly lesbian athlete, and a figure of representation and perseverance in combat sports.
Early Life & Military Service
Liz Carmouche was born in Lafayette, Louisiana.
She spent part of her youth in Okinawa, Japan, where she attended Okinawa Christian School International, graduating in 2003.
Carmouche comes from a mixed background—she is of Lebanese, Irish, and Cajun French descent.
Before becoming a professional fighter, she served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an aviation electrician, conducting multiple tours in the Middle East (Iraq, Afghanistan) during her service.
Her time in the military shaped her discipline, mental toughness, and ability to handle pressure—skills that would translate into her MMA career.
MMA Career & Milestones
Early Career & Strikeforce / Invicta
Liz Carmouche’s professional MMA career began in 2010, where she quickly secured early wins via knockout and submission.
She fought in Strikeforce early on. Notably:
-
In August 2010, she competed in a reserve bout at Strikeforce Challengers 10 and beat Colleen Schneider by decision.
-
In November 2010, she defeated Jan Finney via TKO.
-
She later challenged Marloes Coenen for the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight title (March 2011) but lost via triangle choke in the fourth round.
-
She also faced Sarah Kaufman in 2011 and lost by decision.
In the Invicta Fighting Championship promotion:
-
At Invicta FC 1 (April 2012), she defeated Ashleigh Curry by TKO (first round).
-
At Invicta FC 2 (July 2012), she defeated Kaitlin Young via rear-naked choke.
These performances built her profile in women’s MMA.
UFC: First Women’s UFC Fight & Title Contention
Carmouche became part of MMA history at UFC 157 (February 2013) when she faced Ronda Rousey for the first-ever women’s UFC fight (bantamweight title).
In that fight, Carmouche locked in a standing rear-naked choke / face crank early, but Rousey escaped and ultimately finished the bout with an armbar with just seconds remaining in round one.
Over her UFC tenure, she competed in both bantamweight (135 lbs) and flyweight (125 lbs) divisions, challenging for championships in both.
Some of her UFC highlights:
-
She defeated Jéssica Andrade by TKO in 2013.
-
She faced Miesha Tate in 2013 (lost by decision).
-
She beat Lauren Murphy in 2015 (decision).
-
She competed in the flyweight division starting 2017, facing Alexis Davis, Jennifer Maia, and a rematch vs. Valentina Shevchenko.
-
In 2019, she challenged Shevchenko for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship but lost by unanimous decision.
-
After her title bid, she was released from the UFC in December 2019.
Bellator MMA & Championship Run
After her UFC departure, Carmouche signed with Bellator MMA in December 2019.
In Bellator:
-
Her debut fight (Bellator 246, September 2020) was against DeAnna Bennett. Bennett missed weight; Carmouche won via submission (rear-naked choke).
-
She beat Vanessa Porto by unanimous decision at Bellator 256 (2021).
-
She defeated Kana Watanabe by TKO in the first round at Bellator 261 (2021).
Carmouche captured the Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Championship at Bellator 278 (April 2022), finishing Juliana Velasquez by elbows from the crucifix position in the 4th round.
-
That result was appealed by Velasquez’s team but the Hawaii commission denied it.
-
In the rematch at Bellator 289 (December 2022), Carmouche won by armbar submission in round 2.
-
She defended the title in Bellator 294 (April 2023) against DeAnna Bennett via arm-triangle choke in round 4. Bennett again missed weight, so the title remained with Carmouche even if she lost.
-
Her next defense came at Bellator 300 (October 2023) vs. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. Macfarlane missed weight; the fight proceeded at catchweight, and Carmouche won via TKO (leg kick) in round 5.
Transition to PFL & Recent Success
Liz Carmouche shifted into the Professional Fighters League (PFL) in 2024.
Notable PFL achievements:
-
In her PFL debut (PFL 1, April 2024), she defeated Juliana Velasquez by unanimous decision.
-
At PFL 4 (June 2024), she defeated Kana Watanabe via armbar in round 3.
-
She missed weight for the PFL semifinal vs. Taila Santos in August 2024 (weighed in at 127 lbs), and lost by decision.
Her 2025 season has been strong:
-
In April 2025, in PFL 2, she defeated Ilara Joanne by first-round TKO to move into the semifinals.
-
In June 2025, she progressed further via decision in the semifinals over Elora Dana.
-
In August 2025, she won the PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament final vs. Jena Bishop by knockout in the 3rd round.
As of that victory, her professional MMA record (noting sources) stands around 25 wins, 8 losses.
Her fight style is well-rounded, combining striking (TKOs, knockouts), submissions, and decision wins.
Personal Life & Identity
Liz Carmouche is openly lesbian, making her one of the first openly LGBT athletes in MMA, and the first openly lesbian UFC fighter.
She is married and has a son.
Carmouche has discussed the challenges of balancing a fight career with family life—particularly dealing with extended time away from her wife and son.
She also serves as a spokesperson for Medical Marijuana Inc., promoting the potential therapeutic benefits of CBD for athletes.
Carmouche has faced and spoken about homophobia in MMA, noting the disparities in acceptance between women and men in the sport.
Style, Strengths & Influences
Liz Carmouche fights with grit, resilience, and a blend of striking and grappling skills. She is known for toughness, endurance, and willingness to engage in all phases of MMA.
Her military background contributes to her mental toughness, discipline, and composure under pressure.
She has also become a role model and mentor for LGBTQ+ fighters and athletes, raising visibility and challenging norms.
Memorable Statements & Quotes
Here are some notable remarks attributed to her:
“Going into it, I wasn’t trying to ruffle any feathers and make a big statement. I was just trying to be true myself and by doing that I ended up being a pioneer and mentor for other people.”
In discussion of her dual roles in the military and MMA:
“In the Middle East, there was an acceptance that you are putting your life on the line … Fighting is kind of the same … at the end of the day if something happens … you have no control over that.”
She has also spoken about the emotional weight of being away from family during fight camps, acknowledging that this has led her to reassess priorities.
Lessons & Legacy
From Carmen’s journey, several enduring lessons emerge:
-
Courage in identity: By being openly lesbian and competing at the highest level, she has helped shift cultural norms in MMA and sports at large.
-
Service and sacrifice: Her military service is not just a backstory, but a foundation for mental and emotional strength.
-
Longevity and adaptation: Across multiple organizations (UFC, Bellator, PFL), she has adapted and continued to compete at elite levels.
-
Impact beyond wins: Her legacy includes more than titles—she represents progress, representation, and breaking barriers.
-
Balancing life and career: Her evolving views on family and fighting underscore the human side of athletes behind the spectacle.
Conclusion
Liz Carmouche’s career spans historic firsts, championship titles, courageous identity, and constant evolution. From a Marine to a pioneer in women’s MMA, to a champion in multiple leagues, her path is marked by resilience, purpose, and influence.
Cited sources: Wikipedia (Liz Carmouche) and related MMA databases