Liz Carmouche
Girl-Rilla
USA
Third-straight title defense
Carmouche successfully defended her flyweight title against Ilima-Lei Mafarlane via TKO (leg kick) at 0:17 of Round 5 at Bellator 300 on October 7 in San Diego.
ANALYSIS
Carmouche entered this fight as the only combatant who could come away with gold due to a weight miss by Macfarlane earlier in the week. While the challenger had her moments, most notably in Round 2, it was Carmouche's constant attention to the lead leg of Macfarlane that ended up paying dividends in the final frame. Of course, to get that far, Carmouche had to constantly defend takedowns, and her chin had to hold up well in the striking exchanges. By the time Round 5 started, Macfarlane's leg was significantly compromised. Another early shot to that leg floored Macfarlane and forced the referee to step in. It will go down as the third consecutive title defense for Carmouche.
Carmouche entered this fight as the only combatant who could come away with gold due to a weight miss by Macfarlane earlier in the week. While the challenger had her moments, most notably in Round 2, it was Carmouche's constant attention to the lead leg of Macfarlane that ended up paying dividends in the final frame. Of course, to get that far, Carmouche had to constantly defend takedowns, and her chin had to hold up well in the striking exchanges. By the time Round 5 started, Macfarlane's leg was significantly compromised. Another early shot to that leg floored Macfarlane and forced the referee to step in. It will go down as the third consecutive title defense for Carmouche.
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Defends flyweight belt
Carmouche defeated DeAnna Bennett via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:29 of Round 4 at Bellator 294 on Friday in Honolulu.
ANALYSIS
Although Bennett missed weight for the event and was originally ineligible for the title, Carmouche put her belt on the line anyway. It almost cost her, as according to Bellator PR, Bennett had won each of the first three rounds of the fight according to all three judges. Fortunately for Carmouch, the end result ended up being the same as when the two originally met in Carmouche's Bellator debut back in 2020 in which she earned a third-round submission victory via rear-naked choke. Carmouche has now defended her 125-pound belt twice since originally earning almost exactly one year earlier.
Although Bennett missed weight for the event and was originally ineligible for the title, Carmouche put her belt on the line anyway. It almost cost her, as according to Bellator PR, Bennett had won each of the first three rounds of the fight according to all three judges. Fortunately for Carmouch, the end result ended up being the same as when the two originally met in Carmouche's Bellator debut back in 2020 in which she earned a third-round submission victory via rear-naked choke. Carmouche has now defended her 125-pound belt twice since originally earning almost exactly one year earlier.
Defends belt in rematch
Carmouche defeated Juliana Velasquez via submission (armbar) at 4:24 of Round 4 at Bellator 289 to retain her Bellator Women's Flyweight Championship.
ANALYSIS
Carmouche earned the belt with a come-from-behind, Round 4 TKO victory over Juliana Velasquez back in April, and despite entering as the underdog Friday, the outcome wasn't all that different in the end. She again relied on her grappling, but this time got the stoppage far earlier in the fight while registering key takedowns in each of the first two rounds. Now 38 years old, Carmouche sports a perfect 5-0 record under the Bellator banner. It's unclear what the promotion has in store next for the undisputed 125-pound champion.
Carmouche earned the belt with a come-from-behind, Round 4 TKO victory over Juliana Velasquez back in April, and despite entering as the underdog Friday, the outcome wasn't all that different in the end. She again relied on her grappling, but this time got the stoppage far earlier in the fight while registering key takedowns in each of the first two rounds. Now 38 years old, Carmouche sports a perfect 5-0 record under the Bellator banner. It's unclear what the promotion has in store next for the undisputed 125-pound champion.
New Bellator Flyweight Champion
Carmouche defeated Juliana Velasquez via TKO (elbows) at 4:47 of Round 4 at Bellator 278 on April 22 in Hawaii, becoming the new Bellator Women's Flyweight Champion.
ANALYSIS
This has to be refreshing for Carmouche, who had previously fallen short in title fights both in Strikeforce and the UFC (twice). While she did pick up the flyweight belt here, it wasn't without controversy. Carmouche was down on the scorecards after three rounds, but she landed a takedown that led to a dominant crucifix position. After landing several heavy elbows, Mike Beltran rushed in to stop the proceedings, though many question the veteran referee's decision. The argument is that Beltran should have given Velasquez more time to survive, especially with less than 15 seconds left on the clock. Still, what's done is done. Bellator President Scott Coker has since suggested that a rematch between the two fighters may be in the cards.
This has to be refreshing for Carmouche, who had previously fallen short in title fights both in Strikeforce and the UFC (twice). While she did pick up the flyweight belt here, it wasn't without controversy. Carmouche was down on the scorecards after three rounds, but she landed a takedown that led to a dominant crucifix position. After landing several heavy elbows, Mike Beltran rushed in to stop the proceedings, though many question the veteran referee's decision. The argument is that Beltran should have given Velasquez more time to survive, especially with less than 15 seconds left on the clock. Still, what's done is done. Bellator President Scott Coker has since suggested that a rematch between the two fighters may be in the cards.
Debut at Bellator 243 postponed
Carmouche will no longer make her Bellator debut against Mandy Brown at Bellator 243 on May 29, as the promotion has cancelled all of its May events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ariel Helwani of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Carmouche was released from her UFC contract despite going 4-2 in her last six fights with the company, but the 36-year-old wanted to continue her career and inked a deal with Bellator MMA in December. She would have been a big favorite in her company debut, but it's now unclear if or when this fight might be rescheduled. The delay will also give flyweight champion Ilima-Lei MacFarlane more time to recover from her five-round battle with Kate Jackson in December, and it's not entirely unheard of to give recent UFC signees immediate title shots. Look for more clarity to arise on the situation when Bellator begins to reschedule events, which hopefully can occur by late-summer or fall.
Carmouche was released from her UFC contract despite going 4-2 in her last six fights with the company, but the 36-year-old wanted to continue her career and inked a deal with Bellator MMA in December. She would have been a big favorite in her company debut, but it's now unclear if or when this fight might be rescheduled. The delay will also give flyweight champion Ilima-Lei MacFarlane more time to recover from her five-round battle with Kate Jackson in December, and it's not entirely unheard of to give recent UFC signees immediate title shots. Look for more clarity to arise on the situation when Bellator begins to reschedule events, which hopefully can occur by late-summer or fall.
Inks deal with Bellator promotion
Carmouche signed a multiyear deal with Bellator on Friday after being cut from her UFC contract back on Dec. 9, Damon Martin of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The UFC had originally promised Carmouche that they would offer her a fight sometime in November or December of this year. Instead of finding her a match, Carmouche was released from the UFC. After not having competed since June of 2019, Carmouche is eager to get back into the ring and is looking to get a fight booked as early as February of 2020. While it may be too late to find a lane back to the UFC, Carmouche hopes to work her way up the Bellator ranks and earn her way to the top.
The UFC had originally promised Carmouche that they would offer her a fight sometime in November or December of this year. Instead of finding her a match, Carmouche was released from the UFC. After not having competed since June of 2019, Carmouche is eager to get back into the ring and is looking to get a fight booked as early as February of 2020. While it may be too late to find a lane back to the UFC, Carmouche hopes to work her way up the Bellator ranks and earn her way to the top.