According to a March 18 report from ESPN, UFC star Liz Carmouche is open to fighting transgender MMA standout Fallon Fox.
"I understand she fights in a regional organization right now but, if she makes it to the UFC, and fights in the 135lbs female bantamweight division, I'd be happy to fight her," Carmouche said in a statement. "But that's all hypothetical -- what I can say for sure is that I understand what it is to be a [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender] athlete in the spotlight like she finds herself in right now and that I'm glad she's got the support of the LGBT community behind her."
Carmouche is one of the biggest names to come out in support of Fox, as several other female MMA stars explained that they wouldn't be open to fighting her.
UFC star Miesha Tate and Invicta FC champ Carla Esparza both took a firm stance on the issue, noting that they believed fighting Fox would present a safety issue.
"I understand she wants to be viewed as a female. I get it," Tate said. "That's fine, but it's not fine if you may have a physical advantage and may be able to really hurt someone. It has to be disclosed. It should be an opponent's choice whether they want to fight her or not."
UFC color commentator Joe Rogan also came out with open remarks about Fox, explaining that he believed it's wrong for her to have the opportunity to fight women.
As for Fox herself, she thinks she shouldn't have to tell opponents about her medical past.
"Some fighters have already said they would not want to fight me," Fox said. "I think that's because they're scared, No. 1, because I'm pretty good. Or they might just have a bias or they might just be a hate-filled person who doesn't want to touch me or whatever. But I don't want to fight those people anyway because they're scared, so what kind of fight would that be?"
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