SEATTLE -- Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche has already made history as the first openly gay fighter in the UFC. Now the former U.S. marine is set to do it again as she faces Brazilian Jessica Andrade in the first bout between openly lesbian fighters in the mixed martial arts organization. Carmouche still cant quite believe it is her in the spotlight as pioneer. "I never thought after being so closeted in the marine corps to being now in the UFC that I would ever be that person, let along be somebody who could be open or be somebody thats pioneering and knocking down doors," said Carmouche, who fights Andrade (9-2) on Saturdays televised UFC card at KeyArena. "So Im just embracing every moment and just grateful that it is happening." Andrade, a pint-sized fighter with a big smile, says she hopes she is helping open the door for others to be open about who they are and how they feel. "In the end, whatever your sexual orientation, it doesnt affect how you work, who you are or what you do," Andrade said through an interpreter. She too is enjoying the moment as she becomes the first Brazilian woman to fight in the UFC. Thanks to a Seattle shopping expedition, she was sporting brand new red Air Jordans on Thursday. "Kid size," explained the interpreter. Carmouche (7-3) was thrown in the spotlight in February when she challenged bantamweight champion (Rowdy) Ronda Rousey at UFC 157. Carmouche was submitted in the first round but not before dragging Rousey into some deep water at the Honda Center in Anaheim. The 29-year-old Carmouche is hard not to root for. While the "UFC Primetime" TV show in advance of the fight showed Rousey commuting in a luxury car, Carmouche was driving a beater with a cracked windshield. A furniture manufacturer, having seen her admit she couldnt afford a kitchen table, reached out to offer her a freebie. Her life remains the same, but has changed significantly on one front. While she still answers the phone at the San Diego Combat Academy, she reports that quick trips to the supermarket or corner store are a thing of the past. Carmouches story has touched a nerve, well beyond her sexual orientation. "It never turns into anything quick, it turns into something longer," she said. "Getting to hear peoples stories, getting to hear the way I impacted peoples lives. Them just wanting to talk to me and interact." While she admits it sometimes plays havoc with her schedule, she says she relishes the attention. "Other days, getting to hear that I could actually influence peoples lives, that they have a role model now to look up to, that just blows my mind," she said. The five-foot-six Carmouche says the ripple effect of her title fight has been seen at her gym. "When we started off, I had one other consistent teammate. And now we have 10 women that want to fight. Thats a huge difference." She says it has upped her game, helping her train with a variety of talented women. Kids have also told her they see her as a role model. "Thats just changed my life for the better," she said. "I never thought Id be that person but I accept it with open arms," she added. She feels no pressure from that role, saying she walks the proper path. She rarely drinks and says if she goes out at night, she does so responsibly. She doesnt do drugs and takes care of her body. Carmouche has been invited to appear in several Pride parades, attend openings of LGBT centres and speak to kids. She says she believes there will be a day when her sexual orientation will no longer be an issue, pointing to the advancement of gay marriage and the repealing of discriminatory laws. "I do see that day is coming," she said. "But just like you still have racism now and you still have just people that are ignorant to everything, its still going to be there and I dont think thats going to go away." Carmouche was originally slated to face Miesha Tate in Seattle but Tate was shifted to face Rousey in the co-main event of UFC 168 on Dec. 28 in Las Vegas. Rousey and Tate will set up their rematch -- Rousey won by first-round submission in Strikeforce in March 2012 -- by serving as rival coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter" TV show. "I am bummed out," Carmouche said of missing out on facing Tate. "Im grateful that the UFC still kept the fight. . . . Im still having the opportunity to fight. I wish it could have been Miesha but Im glad Im still in the UFC fighting." Andrade was in the kitchen back home in Brazil, cooking a dinner of pasta and sausage when her coach showed up at the door with news that the UFC had called. For the 21-year-old Andrade, its her first fight in the U.S. But she is no shrinking violet, having fought in Russia last time out. Plus she fought seven times in 2012. "Im ready," she said through an interpreter. "I know what to do." Listed generously at five foot three, Andrades Brazilian nickname "Bate Estaca" means piledriver -- she got it after being disqualified for trying the illegal move during an early Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition. The fourth-youngest fighter in the UFC, she has won seven of her last eight fights. "She may be short but she packs a good punch," said Carmouche. Cheap Jordan 5 For Sale . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. Air Jordan 5 NZ . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. http://www.airjordan5nz.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Wholesale Jordan 5 NZ . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Air Jordan 5 Retro NZ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Sri Lanka Cricket and Muttiah Muralitharan have traded caustic verbal blows following an altercation between Murali and the Sri Lanka team manager. SLC has made a formal complaint to Cricket Australia over the altercation, and has also contended Murali had conducted centre-wicket training at the Pallekele ground without permission.With consternation about Muralis role as spin-bowling consultant with Australia already high at SLC, a rumour began to circulate that Murali had influenced the preparation of a turning pitch at the P Sara Oval for Australias practice match last week. Having represented Tamil Union Cricket Club for much of his career, the P Sara Oval was effectively Muralis home ground. It is a venue where he commands substantial respect.Sri Lanka would have preferred Australia to play their practice match on a seaming deck at odds with the surfaces that would be prepared for the Tests. Yet, Australia spinners Steve OKeefe and Nathan Lyon shared 12 scalps in that game, on a surface that had begun to take significant turn by day three.Having caught wind of the suggestion that he was responsible for the nature of that pitch, Murali said he confronted Charith Senanayake, whom he believed to be the source of the accusation. Murali denies having had any influence over the preparation of the P Sara pitch. Senanayake denies having sparked the rumour.Charith has accused [me] and told the media that I have cut the grass on the pitch to help Australias spin bowlers to take the wickets in the three-day game. Thats a lie, Murali said. When I met him I asked him: We played together and respected each other, why are you telling lies?, he told me that they have just made an inquiry.The Tamil Union wicket was made at the time by Janaka Sampath, who is the SLC board curator. They should clarify from him what actually happened, rather than going on rumour.Tempers are understood to have spilled over during the exchange. SLC was eventually notified, and on Monday, its president Thilanga Sumathipala said the board was deeply disappointed by Muralis actions and had lodged a complaint with CA.There are two problems here, Sumathipala said. The first is that Charith Senanayake has made a complaint that he had been berated. The second is that a certain training session for the Australia players at Pallekele had been carried out without permission.Were very disappointed because Murali is a player the board spent a lot of effort saving. We saved him three times. From a professional standpoint, there is no problem with him working with the Australian team. But the issue here is an ethical one. Weve named the trophy the Murali-Warne Trophy.And I remember once when we went to Kandy with Murali, he was on a truck and there was so much support for him that it took four hours for him to get home. Kandy is his hometown, and hes now had to coach an opposition team at Pallekele. Regardless of professionalism, were very hurt by this.SLC vice-president Mohan de Silva attempted to calm tensions, stating the board had not lost respect for Murali, but others within the cricket establishment had continued to express their dismay. When Sri Lankas sports minister also expressed disappointment over him taking the Australia job, Murali reacted by admonishing the board for casting aspersions upon his ethics, and drew attention to his substantial body of humanitarian work.About two years ago, the board headed by Nishantha Ranatunga asked me to do some work with the spinneers and I said yes, and I went and worked with the Sri Lankan spinners for 10 or 15 days, Murali said.dddddddddddd Since then no Sri Lankan board has asked me to do any job. If they had asked me before the [Australia] series to be a consultant, I would have said yes. They didnt want me, and someone else wanted me. How could I be a traitor to this country? Australia asked me to coach for the entire series, but I told them I can only do 10 days because I dont want to be in the opposition dressing room during the match in Sri Lanka, thats not ethical.Sri Lankan people have done a lot for me, and I think I have done a lot for them as well. Along with a friend Ive opened the Foundation of Goodness, where every year we help 50,000 families. We built 1000 houses after the tsunami. Cricket-wise, through the foundation, we made about 30-40 wickets in the Northern and Eastern provinces. We hold an annual reconciliation tournament. We do more than what Sri Lanka Cricket does, with our own funds.Murali said Sri Lankans pursuing coaching opportunities with other countries was a result of their being unfairly treated by the SLC.These people who are accusing me should go and look in the mirror [and compare] what they are doing to the country and what I am doing. The other fundamental wrong is that when our players become brilliant coaches, the board chases them off. Im talking about Chandika Hathurusingha, Chaminda Vaas, Marvan Atapattu, Mario Villavarayan, and Thilan Samaraweera, who went to Australia. These people are all working in different countries where they are valued more than they are here.What we do is bring all the top coaches from abroad when we already have the talent. We are not using it. Am I the traitor or are they the traitors? When they pay also - the foreign coaches are paid so much more than the Sri Lankan coaches.Murali was also incensed by how much had been made of his association with Australia in particular, a role which he felt offered personal vindication given his travails in Australia during his career. He had initially worked with the Australia spinners during a series in the UAE in 2014, before being approached again ahead of this series.I know in 95 and 96 I had problems against Australia, and the whole of Sri Lanka backed me. I thought that when Australia asked me to coach, thats them saying that I dont do anything wrong - that I am correct and they were wrong at the time. Thats their proving it by asking me to train their spinners.Does SLC think that just because I coach Australia for 10 days, Australia will win? If thats the case I am the best coach in the world, and Sri Lanka should hire me every time, and we will win every time.Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara tweeted in support of Murali on Monday evening. Murali is a great son of Sri Lanka and he doesnt have to defend himself. He loves his country, Sangakkara wrote. He is free to consult or coach anyone. If SLC had ever asked him to coach Sri Lanka, he always will. His consultancy with anyone is a way he can give back to the game.He has given his best to his country on the field and off. He is always available for his country, all they have to do is ask. We [should be] proud of him. If any Sri Lankan spinner walks up to [Murali] and asks him about bowling, he will be the first to spend as much time as needed to help. Free. ' ' '