It did not take Liz Carmouche long to find a new home to compete in.
Carmouche, a former UFC title challenger, signed a multi-year, multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA just weeks after being released by the UFC.
— LIZ CARMOUCHE (@iamgirlrilla) July 18, 2019
The promotion announced the signing during the special Bellator Salute to the Troops event in Hawaii. Carmouche is a United States Marine Corps veteran.
Carmouche joins Bellator’s women’s flyweight division following a six-year run in UFC – a tenure that includes world title bouts in both the bantamweight and flyweight divisions, as well as notable wins over Katlyn Chookagian and Jessica Andrade.
We're thrilled to welcome @IAmGirlrilla to the Bellator Fam! pic.twitter.com/1q7UHMoXz8
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) December 21, 2019
Fighting out of San Diego, the 35-year-old Team Hurricane Awesome-product also formerly competed for Strikeforce, notching a pair of victories with the promotion. She earned an additional win over Valentina Shevchenko earlier in her career.
Welcome to the @BellatorMMA family, @iamgirlrilla. pic.twitter.com/nIaiGYFYmG
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) December 21, 2019
Prior to her days as a professional athlete, the Lafayette, Louisiana-native spent five years serving as an aviation electrician in the United Stated Marine Corps, where she completed three tours of duty in the Middle East. A longtime friend and teammate of Hawaii’s own Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, “Girl-Rilla” finally has the opportunity to compete alongside Bellator women’s flyweight world champion in an already-stacked 125-pound division.
Carmouche’s promotional debut will take place early 2020 in the flyweight division, which features the likes of Macfarlane, Kate Jackson, Veta Arteaga, Bruna Ellen and Alejandra Lara.