When it comes to making weight in combat sports, the margins can be thin, as demonstrated by veteran fighter Liz Carmouche, who shaved her head to ensure she was eligible for her PFL title fight this weekend.
Carmouche, previously on the UFC and Bellator rosters, successfully made weight for her title fight in Chicago on Friday.
The fighter is now in the clear to take on Jena Bishop in the PFL’s main event on Friday night, with the flyweight world title on the line.
With the 125lb limit set, the 42-year-old Carmouche stepped on the scales, but was forced to make a late alteration to her look in order to make the contract weight.
Some of the American’s support staff were seen grabbing electric clippers, with the swift makeover helping to take off the remaining ounces.
Carmouche was gleeful at the weigh-in, despite the drastic action taken, rubbing her hair and revelling in her new look.
In the latter stages of her career, Carmouche has conceded that fighting in the flyweight division involves a "crazy cut".
"My bone density keeps increasing, therefore my weight keeps increasing and I can keep reducing calories but that's not going to change the build of my body," she told Ariel Helwani on Uncrowned.
"So 135lb makes the most sense, but the performance I have at 125lb makes it really hard to want to go up a weight class.”
Carmouche will hope it’s repeat, rather than revenge, having knocked out Bishop in the third round of their first meeting in 2025.
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