**Liz Carmouche Shaves Head to Make Weight for World Title Fight in Chicago**
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In a remarkable display of dedication to her sport, seasoned mixed martial artist Liz Carmouche opted for a drastic measure just moments before her weigh-in for the Professional Fighters League (PFL) flyweight world title fight. On Friday, October 16, Carmouche decided to shave her hair in order to reach the required weight of 125 lbs for her bout against Jena Bishop at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
At 42 years of age, Carmouche, who has previously showcased her skills in both the UFC and Bellator, explained that her struggle to shed pounds stemmed from her increasing bone density. Due to this physical change, making the cut to flyweight has proven to be particularly challenging for her. Even though she feels she would be more at ease competing in the 135 lb class, she acknowledged that her optimal performance occurs at the lower weight.
“My bone density keeps increasing, therefore my weight keeps increasing,” Carmouche said in an interview. “I can keep reducing calories, but that’s not going to change the build of my body. So while 135 lbs makes the most sense from a comfort standpoint, I perform much better at 125 lbs, which makes it difficult to want to move up a weight class.”
Throughout her career, which commenced in 2010 after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Carmouche has sported various hairstyles, ranging from shoulder-length cuts to intricate braids. However, it was just before the crucial weigh-in that she made the impulsive decision to cut her hair, a moment documented on her Instagram account with the PFL.
As she stepped onto the scale and was confirmed to be at the required weight, excitement rippled through her team. “That was close,” one team member was heard saying in the background, emphasising the tension of the moment.
Carmouche elaborated on the procedure leading up to her hair cut, revealing just how close she was to missing the weight limit. “Every 125 lb weight cut sucks. It’s always hell, no matter what,” she remarked. “This was far closer than I like it to be. The hair was not the option that I thought was on the table for how I would lose that last little bit, but I had a minute left to weigh in or the fight was going to be called off.”
The fighter described her last-minute efforts to shed the excess weight. “I wasn’t sweating anymore,” she shared. “I tried spitting, but I had no saliva. I was just scraping saliva off my tongue. I even tried peeing, but there was nothing left. The sports bra and underwear I was wearing added up to .2 lbs, meaning I was still .4 lbs over unless I was going to weigh in naked, which wasn’t going to happen.”
In a moment of desperation, she finally considered cutting her hair. “I know it was kind of thrown out as a joke, but I was willing to try anything,” she explained. “So I thought, ‘Hey, this might work. Let’s do it,’ and that’s how we got to this point.”
Carmouche, often referred to by her nickname “Girl-Rilla,” boasts an impressive fighting record of 26 wins and 8 losses, along with titles in both Bellator MMA and the PFL, including the PFL tournament championship in 2025. Her upcoming opponent, Jena Bishop, 40, is an accomplished grappler with a record of 11 wins and 3 losses and successfully made weight ahead of their encounter.
Both fighters are set to clash as part of the main card at PFL Chicago, which is scheduled to commence at 11 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on ESPN2. As the world eagerly anticipates this high-stakes showdown, Carmouche’s prepared mindset and tenacity will undoubtedly add to the drama of the contest.
With the combination of skill and determination showcased by both competitors, fight night promises to deliver an electrifying spectacle for fans and attendees alike.