HONOLULU – Liz Carmouche finally can call herself the champion of a major MMA promotion.
At Bellator 278, Carmouche (16-7 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) defeated then-sitting champion Juliana Velasquez (12-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA) with a TKO stoppage at 4:47 of Round 4. The bout served as the main event for the card which took place Friday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center as the first of a two-night doubleheader at the venue.
The first four rounds were somewhat closely contested. Carmouche found success with her leg kicks early, but Velasquez made her pay in the boxing department. Two times Velasquez knocked Carmouche down with a punch.
