The 2024 PFL playoffs kicked off on Friday at PFL Nashville, where Bellator women’s flyweight champ Liz Carmouche faced off with Taila Santos in the first semifinal of the night.
The winner would see one former UFC title challenger move on to the playoffs with a shot at a million dollars on the line. Throwing a wrench in the works, however, was Carmouche missing weight on Thursday, the first time in her lengthy career the “Girl-illa” had been heavy for a fight.
That miss would result in a one point deduction for Carmouche recognized by the league, not the judges, should the first go the distance.
Carmouche charged into a takedown about a minute into Friday’s main card opener in Nashville, TN, after some circling and kicks thrown by Santos. Brazil’s Santos fended off the initial attempt but found herself with her back to the fence, Carmoche continuing to pursue the takedown. It took some time and considerable effort, but Santos finally reversed the position, and with about 90 seconds left in the frame, scored a takedown of her own, landing on top in guard.
Active on her back, Carmouche made her way to the fence, then rolled, but gave up her back looking for a way out. That allowed Santos to get one hook in, and hunt for a rear-naked choke, though with 20 seconds left on the clock, she was cramped against the fence and running out of time. Carmouche, as it turned out, would survive the round.
With Carmouche likely down after one round, the point deduction loomed large. Round two opened with some circling and feeling out, with Santos firing kicks, and controlling much of the action. Near the midway mark, she punched her way into a takedown, changing levels but being stalled in the attempt with Carmouche putting her back to the fence, and raising one leg to keep Santos out of position.
Santos, meanwhile, had underhooks, and Carmouche struggled to escape, or just get Taila Santos off of her. Not a ton of action in the round, but Santos was once again in the driver’s seat until the final minute, when this time, Liz Carmouche landed a takedown. She settled into side control, and pounded the body a few times, but as with Santos in the first, time was a factor.
Round three found Carmouche, knowing a takedown (not to mention a big round and possibly a finish) was necessary, immediately landing one. But Santos escaped out the back. For the rest of the round, a grappling battle with Carmouche in control unfolded. She struggled to get the fight down, but arguably did enough to win the round. The problem remained the weight miss and point deduction, though that point would only be taken by the PFL, not the judges, meaning the initial scorecards would not necessarily reflect it.
That also meant that Liz Carmouche could win on the scorecards, then have a point deducted after the fact that might leave her ineligible to make the final.
Luckily, the point deduction didn’t come into play, as Taila Santos won outright on the scorecards, 29-28, meaning the extra point didn’t matter in the end.
Official Result: Talia Santos def. Liz Carmouche by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
