Back in 2013, when Liz Carmouche made history in the UFC`s first-ever female fight against superstar Ronda Rousey, Ilara Joanne was an 18-year-old Muay Thai enthusiast in Fortaleza, Brazil. More than ten years later, Joanne is set to step into the cage to face the seasoned PFL and Bellator competitor herself.
Carmouche and Joanne will co-headline PFL 2 on April 10 in Orlando, Florida, competing to advance in the 2025 flyweight tournament. The prospect of fighting for a $500,000 prize feels surreal for Joanne, who earned less than $200 for her initial MMA victory just months after the landmark Rousey vs. Carmouche bout. Facing “Girl-Rilla” across the cage is an even wilder experience.
Reflecting on her professional debut, Joanne told MMA Fighting, “I had no idea how vast the MMA world was. I didn`t realize it was possible to earn a living fighting in MMA. It only dawned on me when I made my MMA debut and thought, `They`re paying me for this?` It was an eye-opener. Watching [Rousey vs. Carmouche] and then stepping into my own debut, that`s when I knew I loved this and could make a career out of it.”
“I am privileged to be competing against her. I watched her first fight on television with Ronda and never in my wildest dreams imagined I would one day face this woman who has contributed so significantly to the sport on a global scale. Rest assured, I am fully prepared to give my absolute best and make history by defeating her.”
Joanne began training Muay Thai at age 10 and later started following MMA, particularly Cris Cyborg`s success in Strikeforce. However, she didn`t truly consider MMA as a profession until she was offered a debut fight against future UFC fighter Viviane Pereira. She lost that fight via second-round knockout and her second bout by submission a few months later, but she was hooked nonetheless.
She then went on to win eight of her subsequent ten fights, earning a contract with Bellator. There, teammates like Patricio Pitbull, Patricky Pitbull, Leandro Higo, and Matheus Mattos were already establishing their names. In her seven Bellator appearances, Joanne secured three victories against Alejandra Lara, Bec Rawlings, and Denise Kielholtz. Now fighting under the PFL banner, where she holds a 1-1 record from 2024, Joanne embraces the new tournament structure, preferring the traditional grand prix format over the previous points system.
“I appreciate the new regulations; there isn’t the pressure to secure a finish within a specific timeframe just to advance,” Joanne commented. “That could actually work in my favor, allowing me to push the fight into the later rounds. I`m ready to go three rounds if required. While the strategy might shift once the fight begins, that flexibility can be highly beneficial for my overall approach. You feel more at ease and focused simply on securing the win.”
Carmouche boasted an unblemished record in Bellator, winning all seven of her fights, six by stoppage, including three victories over former champion Juliana Velasquez. Carmouche submitted Kana Watanabe in her PFL debut but then dropped a decision to Taila Santos and is now aiming to restart her quest for the title.
“I believe nearly every opponent she has faced has been wary of her grappling, but that’s my area of strength,” Joanne stated. “I am not concerned about her grappling. I`ve prepared extensively for striking and have significantly improved since last year, but I am even more ready to grapple if the situation calls for it.”
