Liz Carmouche Open to a Ronda Rousey Rematch Down the Line

Liz Carmouche has raised the possibility of a rematch with Ronda Rousey. Speaking at PFL Chicago media day on October 15, the former Bellator flyweight champion said she is open to another fight with Ronda Rousey, presenting it as a possibility rather than a signed matchup. She tied the idea to a wider push for opportunities beyond the women's flyweight division.

With Dakota Ditcheva sidelined by injury, Carmouche argued that waiting for an opponent recovering from surgery should not be her only path. She raised a potential MVP superfight with Rousey and said she did not want to lose existing featherweight opportunities. Her preferred timeline would leave the rest of 2026 for family and the holidays before a return early next year. She did not announce a date, a weight, any agreement from Rousey or a booking confirmed by a promotion.

Looking back at UFC 157

In a separate interview a day earlier, Carmouche reflected on their first meeting. She said she believed Rousey was better placed to become the public face of women's MMA at the time, because Carmouche was working a full-time job that would have limited her travel, media work and promotional duties. Rousey won that UFC 157 main event on February 23, 2013, in Anaheim, the first women's fight in UFC history, by armbar at 4:49 of the first round. Before the finish, Carmouche took Rousey's back with both hooks and attacked a choke that turned into a neck crank before Rousey shook her off.

Carmouche also said she was surprised by Rousey's double-leg takedown against Gina Carano, seeing the new approach as an encouraging sign, and hoped Rousey's profile could open more doors for women through MVP.

Carmouche's record since

Since that night, Carmouche has won titles outside the UFC. Her PFL profile lists her at 26-8 and records her Bellator flyweight title with three successful defenses, and she also won the PFL World Tournament in 2025. Her confirmed assignment at the time was Jena Bishop on October 16 for the inaugural PFL women's flyweight world title. Carmouche said Bishop's recent submission wins showed the same grappling strengths rather than a changed opponent, and noted that their first fight ended in her favor with a third-round stoppage.