Liz Carmouche didn’t hesitate when PFL offered her the chance to win a title in a second organization.
Carmouche (20-7), a former UFC title challenger and current Bellator women’s flyweight champion, will look to further enhance her resume on Friday when she meets Juliana Velasquez (12-2) in a regular season opener at 2024 PFL 1, which takes place at Boeing Center in San Antonio, Texas (ESPN2, ESPN+).
After PFL’s acquisition of Bellator, Carmouche said her future was somewhat unclear. However, PFL opted to drop its previous women’s division at featherweight and incorporate a 125-pound roster for the upcoming season, and Carmouche was offered the chance to participate.
“I wouldn’t say that I chose (fighting in PFL next over Bellator),” Carmouche told MMA Junkie Radio. “I would say that they said, ‘Here’s an opportunity, it’s a great opportunity.’ They didn’t know what they were going to be doing with the females outside of this tournament, and to me it was a no-brainer. To have a belt in another organization, to work for $1 million? That’s the most women ever get. So I would be stupid to have not gone for it.”
Carmouche looks to start her run to the $1 million prize in a positive fashion when she meets a familiar foe in Velasquez, who she beat for the Bellator belt in April 2022 before successfully defending it against the Brazilian in a December 2022 rematch.
The first fight may not be the most problematic for Carmouche, because at 40, she’s the oldest athlete in the division. If she runs the gauntlet and makes it to the final, that would mean four fights between Friday and November.
Although Carmouche admitted she’ll have to carefully monitor her preparation and weight cuts, she is thrilled by the idea of a busy year and intends to take full advantage of the situation and become the first fighter to win a Bellator title and a PFL season championship.
“When I started off my career, I think the first year I had eight or nine fights, and I thought that’s what the fighting lifestyle was,” Carmouche said. “When it started to slow down I was like, ‘I don’t really like this.’ I’m in the gym 24/7, 365 days a year. I’ll take a day off here or there, but I don’t really take vacations. Having a goal set every two months is perfect for me to just focus on what I need to in the training camp.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2024 PFL 1.
