PFL Chicago Finalized: Carmouche vs. Bishop 2 for Inaugural Title, Khizriev Returns in Co-Main

The Professional Fighters League is heading back to the Windy City with historic stakes on the line. On October 16, the Wintrust Arena will host PFL Chicago, a card designed to crown the promotion's inaugural women's flyweight world champion and welcome back one of its most resilient stars. For a promotion that recently absorbed Most Valuable Promotions, this event marks a definitive stake in the ground for the 125-pound division.[1][2]

Headlining the ESPN2 broadcast is a high-stakes rematch between MMA pioneer Liz Carmouche and submission specialist Jena Bishop. The bout introduces the PFL's first new championship belt since its landmark merger with MVP, solidifying the promotion's long-term commitment to the women's flyweight weight class.[2][3]

Carmouche and Bishop are no strangers to each other's arsenals. The two previously clashed in the 2025 PFL World Tournament final, a tense grappling battle where Bishop nearly secured an armbar and a triangle choke in the second round. Carmouche ultimately escaped and found the finish, stopping Bishop with strikes in the third round to claim the tournament crown.[4]

Since that defeat, Bishop has been on an absolute tear. The former IBJJF No-Gi World Champion has secured back-to-back first-round submission victories—one via rear-naked choke and another via armbar—to earn her shot at the inaugural belt.[3][4]

Carmouche, a former Marine who competed in the UFC's first-ever women's bout against Ronda Rousey, enters the cage riding a wave of sheer dominance. The veteran has won 13 of her last 14 fights, including a recent second-round guillotine choke over Viviane Araujo. A victory in Chicago would make Carmouche a champion in a second major organization and cement her legacy at 125 pounds.[3][4]

While the main event guarantees a new champion, the co-main event delivers a storyline of pure survival. Undefeated Dagestani featherweight Timur Khizriev makes his return to the cage against Brazilian knockout artist Gabriel Braga.[1][6]

Khizriev's absence from the sport was not by choice. After winning the 2024 PFL featherweight tournament with a grueling five-round victory over Brendan Loughnane, Khizriev was hospitalized in 2025 after being shot five times during an alleged robbery in Makhachkala. His return to active competition after such a severe attack is a massive human-interest victory in itself.[5][6]

Braga, who lost a razor-thin split decision to Khizriev in the 2024 tournament semifinals, has stayed relentlessly busy during Khizriev's recovery. The Brazilian striker has gone 3-1 since their first encounter, picking up a notable win over UFC veteran Jeremy Kennedy.[1][7]

With Khizriev ranked No. 2 and Braga at No. 5 in the PFL featherweight standings, the winner will immediately insert themselves into the world title conversation. For Khizriev, a win ends the layoff cleanly; for Braga, it avenges the only fight standing between him and a championship run.[1][7]

The October 16 card will also feature a heavyweight clash between Denis Goltsov and Maxwell Djantou Nana, alongside a lightweight bout between Alexandr Shabliy and Landry Ward. But the night will ultimately be defined by two rematches: one for a brand-new world title, and another for a fighter reclaiming his career after a brush with death.[1][4][5]