Liz Carmouche focused on Ronda Rousey, says champ forcing everyone to learn judo

FAIRFAX, Va. – Liz Carmouche is back in the win column – despite a controversial decision to get there – and the former title challenger admits there’s still just one possible opponent on her mind.

Back in early 2013, in the first women’s fight in UFC history, Carmouche challenged for women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey’s title. Despite threatening with a first-round face crank/rear-naked choke from the standing position, Carmouche eventually succumbed to Rousey’s trusty armbar.

At Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 63 event on FOX Sports 1, Carmouche (10-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC) picked up a contentious unanimous-decision victory over Lauren Murphy (8-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC). Most media outlets scored the fight for Murphy (via MMADecisions.com), but afterward Carmouche wasn’t dwelling on Murphy – or any other bantamweight, for that matter.

“Ronda’s really the only person who’s on my tongue at all times,” said Carmouche, who’s 2-2 since her title loss at UFC 157. “That’s the only person I’m thinking about – getting a fight with her.”

Like other former foes – and just about all title hopefuls looking for a shot at the dominant champ – Carmouche said Rousey has forced the division’s fighters to expand their skillsets.

Check out the above video as Carmouche explains how Rousey (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), who meets Bethe Correia (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in UFC’s 190 pay-per-view headliner on Aug. 1, ushered in an era in which judo is paramount and why it’s needed.

And for complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 63, check out the UFC Events section of the site.