Twitter unloads on referees after Liz Carmouche earns title

Liz Carmouche shocks Juliana Velasquez in a controversial finish at Bellator 278.

After years in martial arts, Liz Carmouche finally reached the top of the mountain by upsetting Juliana Velasquez for the Bellator Flyweight Title at Bellator 278, but it wasn’t without controversy.

The action started with Carmouche being the more aggressive, forward-pushing fighter in the opening minutes. But Velasquez had her fair share of success in the opening round with her left straight to the body and head.

The pace started to pick up in Round 2 when Velasquez dropped Carmouche with a massive left punch. Carmouche was able to survive and score a takedown and grapple with Velasquez in a clinch for the majority of the second round.

Velasquez landed another big knockdown in Round 3, stopping Carmouche’s takedown attempts. But in round 4, Carmouche landed a big takedown followed by a series of brutal elbows that forced referee Mike Beltran to stop the fight.

The break seemed a little quick for most fans on social media, but Carmouche leaves Hawaii as the new Bellator flyweight champion.

Here’s what Twitter had to say about Liz Carmouche’s controversial win over Juliana Velasquez

Velasquez went undefeated in her last flyweight title defense from Bellator in her professional MMA career. She won her first defense in a split decision against Denise Kielholtz after earning the belt against Ilima-Lei Macfarlane.

Velasquez, best known for her strong judo background, has shown huge improvements in her feet in her recent bouts. She quickly became one of the most dominant fighters in Bellator.

Carmouche has been considered one of the key pioneers of women’s MMA since her first UFC bantamweight title fight against Ronda Rousey. Since joining Bellator in 2020, she had looked strong, prevailing over Kana Watanabe and DeAnna Bennett.

Carmouche Bellator’s return to Hawaii begins with a win over Velasquez with a flyweight title. After a finish that had been debated for months, a rematch between Carmouche and Velasquez appears imminent.

Bellator 278: Juliana Velasquez vs. Liz Carmouche took place live from the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, HI on Friday April 22, 2022. Follow FanSided MMA for all your news and highlights.