The PFL is returning to Chicago this fall with its fight card now set, featuring a new championship belt at the forefront. The main event will showcase the first-ever women’s flyweight title fight between former Bellator champion Liz Carmouche (26-8) and Jena Bishop (11-3). This bout serves as a rematch from their 2025 PFL tournament final, where Carmouche secured victory with a third-round knockout.
The event, PFL Chicago, will be held on Friday, October 16, at Wintrust Arena, the same venue that hosted the promotion in April with Sergio Pettis versus Mitch McKee as the headliner. Carmouche recently claimed a submission win against former UFC contender Viviane Araujo at PFL San Diego in June, while Bishop has bounced back from her loss to Carmouche by submitting Borena Tsertsvadze in April and Ariane Lipski da Silva in June.
During her time in Bellator, Carmouche went undefeated with a 7-0 record, capturing the flyweight title in 2022 and defending it three times before PFL’s acquisition of Bellator led to its abrupt shutdown in 2024. Carmouche also made history by participating in the UFC’s first-ever women’s fight against Ronda Rousey in 2013 and later challenged Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC flyweight title in 2019.
The fight card for PFL Chicago is as follows:
Main Card (ESPN2, 10 p.m. ET)
- Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop
- Gabriel Braga vs. Timur Khizriev
- Sarvarjon Khamidov vs. Rodrigo Nascimento
- Abraham Bably vs. Emiliano Sordi
- J.P. Saint Louis vs. Qualy Tandia
Preliminary Card (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)
- Lucero Acosta vs. Shannon Clark
- Cassio Barao vs. Kevin Pease
- Michael Boylan vs. Gamid Khizriev
- Chelsea Hackett vs. Paulina Wisniewska
- Cobey Fehr vs. Rosario Romero
- Eliezer Kubanza vs. Trey Waters
- Caden Cox vs. Noah Hermosillo
- Giulliany Perea vs. Benita van Rooij
- Morquez Forest vs. Levan Khabalaev
This article was originally published on MMA Junkie under the title: PFL Chicago lineup set: Carmouche-Bishop title fight headlines.
Fan Take: This event marks a pivotal moment for the PFL as it not only showcases top-tier talent but also crowns its inaugural women’s flyweight champion, signaling growth and increased recognition for women’s MMA. Fans should anticipate a fiercely competitive atmosphere that could redefine the landscape of female flyweight fighters in the sport.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
