When Liz Carmouche, a future PFL and Bellator veteran, made her historic UFC debut against Ronda Rousey in 2013, Ilara Joanne was a young 18-year-old Muay Thai student in Fortaleza, Brazil. Over ten years later, Joanne finds herself preparing to step into the cage to face that same seasoned veteran.
The bout between Carmouche and Joanne will serve as the co-main event for PFL 2 on April 10th in Orlando, Florida. Both fighters aim to advance in the 2025 flyweight tournament, competing for a substantial $500,000 prize. Joanne described the prospect of fighting for such a sum as surreal, especially considering her first professional MMA win paid less than $200 just months after Carmouche fought Rousey. Facing “Girl-Rilla” in the cage now feels even more incredible.
Reflecting on her professional debut, Joanne stated, “I had no idea how big the MMA world was. I didn’t know it was possible to make money fighting in MMA.” She explained that her eyes were opened when she received payment for her first fight: “I only realized it when I made my MMA debut and thought, `I’m getting paid to do this?`” She added that watching the Rousey vs. Carmouche fight and then making her own debut solidified her passion and the realization that she could build a career from it.
Joanne expressed deep respect for her opponent, stating, “I’m honored to be fighting her.” She recalled watching Carmouche`s debut against Ronda on television and never imagining she would one day face “that woman who has contributed so much for the sport on a global stage.” She confidently added, “Rest assured that I’m prepared to do my best and be part of history by beating her.”
Joanne began her martial arts journey in Muay Thai at age 10 and later started watching MMA, particularly inspired by Cris Cyborg`s success in Strikeforce. However, she didn`t seriously consider MMA as a career until offered a debut fight against future UFC fighter Viviane Pereira. Although she lost that first fight by second-round knockout, and her second fight months later via submission, she was nonetheless “hooked” on the sport.
Following her initial losses, Joanne went on to win eight of her subsequent ten fights, which earned her a contract with Bellator. There, she joined teammates like Patricio Pitbull and Leandro Higo, who were already making names for themselves. In her seven Bellator appearances, she secured three victories against notable opponents like Alejandra Lara, Bec Rawlings, and Denise Kielholtz. Now competing in the PFL, where she held a 1-1 record in 2024, Joanne praised the company`s shift to a traditional grand prix format, moving away from the previous point system.
Commenting on the tournament format change, Joanne said, “I like the new rules; we don’t have that pressure that you only advance if you get the finish in this amount of time.” She sees this as potentially beneficial, allowing her to take fights to later rounds. “I’m ready to go three rounds if I need to,” she stated. She noted that while strategy can change mid-fight, the new format allows for positive strategic adjustments. This leads to a more relaxed and focused approach, aimed simply at winning the fight.
Liz Carmouche had an impressive undefeated streak during her time in Bellator, winning all seven of her fights, six of which came by stoppage. This included three victories over former Bellator champion Juliana Velasquez. In her PFL debut, Carmouche submitted Kana Watanabe but then lost a decision to Taila Santos. She is now focused on rebuilding her path towards capturing the PFL title.
Addressing Carmouche`s reputation, Joanne remarked, “I think that almost every opponent she’s faced feared her grappling, but that’s my thing.” She confidently stated, “I’m not afraid of her grappling.” Joanne added that while she is well-prepared on the feet, having significantly evolved her striking since the previous year, she is “even more prepared to grapple if needed be.”