Women’s MMA pioneers cannot be discussed without mentioning Liz Carmouche. Carmouche has competed for a variety of noteworthy MMA promotions and in some of MMA’s most memorable women’s MMA fights. She finally captured gold on a big stage when she defeated Juliana Velasquez for the Bellator Women’s Flyweight Title and retained it against her, DeAnna Bennett and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. Carmouche, riding a nine-fight win streak, scored a decision over Velasquez in April and a submission of Kana Watanabe in June.

 

Taila Santos has scored gold on the regional scene but is still yearning for her first world title in a major MMA promotion. Santos has also made her mark at 125 with wins over the likes of Molly McCann, Gillian Robertson and Joanne Wood. Santos submitted Ilara Joanne in April and edged out Jena Bishop in a split decision in June.

 

Who will score the first spot in the inaugural PFL women’s flyweight title fight?

 

Note: Carmouche missed weight for this fight and received a one-point deduction on the scorecards for playoff purposes. Though this will not affect commission scorecards, it will impact Carmouche’s chances of advancing to the PFL World Championships should tonight’s fight reach a judges’ decision.

 

 

Round 1

 

Low kicks from Santos. One-two from Carmouche. Santos lands a couple of shots. Both throw an inside low kick. Santos with a couple of push kicks. Spinning hook kick from Carmouche. More kicks from Santos. Right hand lands for Carmouche. Carmouche goes for a takedown, but Santos stops it. Carmouche continues to drive Santos to the fence, trying to finish the takedown. Santos lands a few shots to the body. Carmouche looking to grab at one of Santos’s legs for this.

 

Santos fires off a few right hands. Santos has her arm around Carmouche, seemingly looking for a guillotine. Carmouche lands a few knees to the thighs of Santos. Carmouche looks for a trip, but Santos prevents it. Santos reverses the position and now has Carmouche against the fence. Santos is the one who gets the takedown now. Carmouche tries to create space for a scramble as Santos works. Carmouche looks to use her guard. Carmouche threatens an armbar, but Santos counters and gets to Carmouche’s back. Hooks are in as Santos looks to sink the choke in! Carmouche lands a couple of right hands, but Santos repositions herself. Santos has a body lock but isn’t under the neck by the time the horn sounds.

 

 

 

Round 2

 

One-two and a low kick from Carmouche. High kick by Carmouche. A couple of kicks from Santos. Low kick from Carmouche. Left hand from Carmouche. Low kick by Santos. Left hand from Santos. Right hand from Carmouche, followed by a low kick. Low kick and a left hand from Santos. Low kick from Carmouche. Low kick from Santos. Right hand from Carmouche. Right hand from Santos. Low kick by Carmouche. Right hand by Santos. High kick thrown by Carmouche. Front kick by Santos. One-two by Carmouche. Small combination by Carmouche.

 

One-two from Santos backs Carmouche up. Right hand catches Carmouche, and Santos shoots in, pressing Carmouche to the SmartCage. Carmouche looks for a throw, but Santos stops the takedown attempt and gets Carmouche back to the fence again. Carmouche lands the body lock takedown with just under a minute left and gets into side control. Carmouche pressures and throws some left hands before the end of the round.

 

 

 

Round 3

 

Carmouche quickly pressures Santos and quickly scores the takedown. Carmouche gets right back into side control and tries to step into full mount. Santos, however, scrambles and gets back to her feet. The two go chest-to-chest against the fence. Carmouche continuing her pressure and landing knees to the legs of Santos. Carmouche trying to get this fight back to the ground, though Santos is defending her attempts well. Carmouche with a back fist off the clinch break.

 

 

Low kick from Carmouche. Combination from Santos. Carmouche with a couple of power shots. Right hand by Carmouche. Left hand by Carmouche. Big right hand from Santos. Front kick by Santos. Left hand to the body by Carmouche. Front kick by Carmouche. Carmouche looks for another takedown, but Santos sprawls. Santos locks around Carmouche’s hips, limiting her movement. Santos lands some left hands while defending Carmouche’s takedown attempt. Carmouche manages to lift Santos up and get the takedown in the final 10 seconds of the fight, finishing on top.

 

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Taila Santos defeats Liz Carmouche by unanimous decision (29-28x3) in the PFL Women’s Flyweight Semifinals, clinching a spot in the 2024 PFL World Championship

  • Santos will face the winner of Dakota Ditcheva vs. Jena Bishop for the 2024 PFL Women’s Flyweight Title
  • Santos moves her career record to 22-3
  • Santos is a former Women’s Flyweight title contender, losing a split decision to Valentina Shevchenko in 2022