After working her way to top, Liz Carmouche thinks quick Bellator 261 knockout sealed her title shot

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Liz Carmouche calls next dibs.

At a Bellator 261 post-fight news conference Friday, Carmouche (16-7 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) made it clear she thinks her 35-second knockout of Kana Watanabe (10-1-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) warrants a title shot.

“I did everything that I wanted to,” Carmouche told MMA Junkie. “I said I’d finish her in the first round by 3:23. It happened faster than I expected and in a different way than I expected. When I was backstage, my coach was just telling me to keep envisioning everything we’ve been working on. That’s exactly what I did. I just wanted to do everything I can to seal my place as next Bellator No. 1 contender.”

Currently, the women’s flyweight division has a title fight booked for July 13. At Bellator 262, champion Juliana Velasquez will defend her belt against Denise Kielholtz. Despite an inevitable wait, Carmouche is OK with sitting in the on-deck circle. There’s no doubt in her mind she’s done enough.

“When I came into Bellator, I wanted to work my way all the way up the ranks,” Carmouche said. “I wanted to piece-by-piece take apart the division so the only option was the title. That’s exactly what I’m doing right now. I think that this fight shows I’m the next person. She can book whoever she wants ahead of that, but I should be the next one in line.”

The sentiment was later echoed by Bellator president Scott Coker, who is not one to often commit to choosing future title challengers on fight night.

“I feel like she’s definitely earned it,” Coker said. “I thought that was a spectacular knockout. Watanabe is no joke. If she had a little bit of time and got Liz to the ground, it’d be a very interesting battle. But (Carmouche) did what she had to do. I thought it was spectacular. To me, she should be in that spot. But I want to wait to see what the rankings come in at and then we’ll decide what to do from there.”

Carmouche, 37, has accomplished a lot in her career. She competed twice for UFC gold – including as one-half of the first women’s fight in UFC history against Ronda Rousey. She also became the first openly gay athlete to compete in the promotion.

Despite her openness and pioneering LGBTQ representation in mixed martial arts, Carmouche hasn’t partaken in the San Diego Pride celebration. Now, she has a rare opportunity to do so during Pride Month.

“It’s a great opportunity to fight in this month,” Carmouche said. “For one, ever since I started fighting, for San Diego Pride, I’ve never got to experience it because I’m always working and I always have a fight on the line. To me, it’s not worth being exhausted, hanging out, and dancing all night. Now I actually have the opportunity to take that time off and go have fun with my friends and go enjoy Pride with my wife.”

Bellator 261 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card aired on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.