Liz Carmouche wasn't about to let a few strands of hair cost her another world championship opportunity.
The 42-year-old MMA veteran shaved her head ahead of the official weigh-ins for PFL Chicago: Carmouche vs. Bishop 2, taking an unusual last-minute measure to ensure she could compete for the inaugural PFL women's flyweight world title.
Carmouche's team brought out electric clippers and removed sections of her hair before she stepped onto the scale on Thursday, October 15. The former Bellator champion then successfully weighed in at exactly 125 pounds, the championship limit for the division.
Her opponent, Jena Bishop, had a more straightforward weigh-in, registering 124.6 pounds. Both fighters are now cleared for their title rematch at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Friday, October 16.
Watch Liz Carmouche shave her head to make 125 pounds
The footage quickly attracted attention across MMA social media, with Carmouche's team using clippers to remove hair before her final weigh-in.
Rather than looking frustrated by the situation, Carmouche appeared amused by her new hairstyle. She smiled on the scale and rubbed her freshly shaved head after successfully making the 125-pound limit.
Liz Carmouche se ha tenido que cortar el pelo para dar el peso de campeonato (125 lbs) y poder optar a ser campeona del peso mosca de PFL #PFLChicago pic.twitter.com/6YdiRKzLkM
β Pelunaton (@pelunaton) October 15, 2026
The official result was 125.0 pounds for Carmouche, meaning she met the exact championship requirement without any allowance to spare.
There is one important detail the footage doesn't establish: exactly how much weight the haircut removed. No verified measurement of Carmouche's weight immediately before the haircut has been made public, so it isn't possible to say precisely how many ounces she needed to lose.
What is clear is that Carmouche was determined to leave no room for error. Missing the championship limit would have jeopardized her eligibility to win the belt, making even a seemingly insignificant amount of extra weight consequential.
Carmouche admits cutting to flyweight is becoming increasingly difficult
The haircut came shortly after Carmouche spoke openly about the physical challenges of continuing to compete at 125 pounds.
During an interview with Ariel Helwani earlier in fight week, she described the flyweight weight cut as particularly demanding at this stage of her career.
Carmouche explained that she believes changes in her body's composition have made it harder to reach the same weight she managed earlier in her career, even when adjusting her diet and training.
At 42, the former UFC title challenger has been competing professionally since 2010. She has fought across multiple organizations and spent years managing the physical demands of cutting weight while maintaining the strength and endurance required for professional MMA.
She acknowledged that moving up to women's bantamweight at 135 pounds could make more sense physically. However, her performances at flyweight have given her little competitive incentive to leave the division.
The numbers support that reluctance. Carmouche enters PFL Chicago with a 26-8 professional record and four consecutive victories. She has won 13 of her previous 14 fights and most recently submitted former UFC flyweight contender Viviane Araujo with a guillotine choke in June.
The weight cut may be becoming increasingly uncomfortable, but she remains one of the most successful fighters competing at 125 pounds.
Liz Carmouche and Jena Bishop meet again for a different PFL championship
The stakes are particularly high because this isn't Carmouche's first championship encounter with Bishop.
The two previously met in August 2025 during the PFL World Tournament finals in Charlotte. Carmouche won that fight by third-round TKO, dropping Bishop with a left hand before finishing her with ground strikes at 2:56.
The victory gave Carmouche the 2025 PFL women's flyweight tournament championship. Friday's rematch is for a separate achievement: the inaugural PFL women's flyweight world title.
That distinction is important. Carmouche has already won a PFL tournament, but she has not yet held the promotion's newly established divisional world championship.
Bishop, meanwhile, has a chance to avenge the most recent defeat of her career.
The 40-year-old submission specialist enters with an 11-3 record and serious credentials in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, including an IBJJF No-Gi world championship and experience competing at ADCC.
Their first meeting was more competitive than the eventual stoppage might suggest. Bishop threatened Carmouche with submissions in the second round, including an armbar and triangle choke, before the veteran escaped and eventually found the finish.
Bishop has since responded with two consecutive first-round submission victories, earning another opportunity against the fighter who stopped her tournament run.
For Carmouche, the rematch offers a chance to establish herself as the first official PFL women's flyweight world champion. For Bishop, it is an opportunity to prove that the outcome of their first meeting doesn't define the matchup.
Could Dakota Ditcheva be next for the PFL Chicago winner?
Despite the challenges of making 125 pounds, Carmouche is already thinking about what could come after the Bishop rematch.
She has expressed interest in facing undefeated British flyweight Dakota Ditcheva, one of the most prominent fighters on the PFL roster.
Ditcheva is currently recovering from surgery, and Carmouche has suggested March 2027 as a possible window for their meeting, provided the British fighter is healthy enough to return.
She also indicated that a championship defense against Ditcheva would make more sense than giving the undefeated contender a separate comeback fight first.
However, no Carmouche vs. Ditcheva bout has been officially announced. Carmouche must first defeat Bishop, and any future booking depends on Ditcheva's recovery and the promotion's plans.
The possibility nevertheless helps explain why Carmouche is so reluctant to move up to bantamweight. A victory in Chicago could position her for another major championship fight at 125 pounds, even as the physical demands of reaching that limit become more difficult.
PFL Chicago: Carmouche vs. Bishop 2 weigh-in results and fight details
Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop 2 headlines PFL Chicago on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
- Championship: Inaugural PFL women's flyweight world title
- Liz Carmouche: 125.0 lbs (26-8)
- Jena Bishop: 124.6 lbs (11-3)
- Main card: 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes in the United States
- Preliminary card: 6:30 p.m. ET on the ESPN App
- Co-main event: Timur Khizriev vs. Gabriel Braga at featherweight
Both championship participants successfully made weight. With the weigh-in completed, Carmouche can turn her attention back to the opponent she stopped in 2025 rather than the final ounces on the scale.
Liz Carmouche PFL Chicago FAQ
Why did Liz Carmouche shave her head before PFL Chicago?
Liz Carmouche shaved her head before the October 15, 2026 weigh-in to help ensure she made the 125-pound championship limit. She successfully weighed in at exactly 125 pounds for her title rematch against Jena Bishop.
Did Liz Carmouche make weight for her fight against Jena Bishop?
Yes. Carmouche officially weighed 125.0 pounds, while Jena Bishop came in at 124.6 pounds. Both fighters are eligible to compete for the inaugural PFL women's flyweight world championship.
When is Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop 2?
The rematch takes place Friday, October 16, 2026, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. It is the main event of PFL Chicago, with the main card beginning at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2 in the United States.
Who won the first Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop fight?
Liz Carmouche defeated Jena Bishop by third-round TKO at 2:56 during the August 2025 PFL World Tournament finals. Carmouche won the tournament championship, while their October 2026 rematch will determine the inaugural divisional world champion.
Will Liz Carmouche move up to bantamweight?
Carmouche has acknowledged that competing at 135 pounds could be physically easier than continuing to cut to 125. However, she has not announced a permanent move to bantamweight and remains focused on the PFL flyweight championship.
Will Liz Carmouche fight Dakota Ditcheva next?
Carmouche has expressed interest in facing Dakota Ditcheva in March 2027 if she wins the PFL flyweight title. Ditcheva is recovering from surgery, and no fight between the two has been officially confirmed.