PFL Chicago card set: Carmouche vs Bishop 2 for the title, and Timur Khizriev returns after surviving 5 gunshots
The PFL has finalised its PFL Chicago card for Friday October 16 at the Wintrust Arena: 14 fights, 2 rematches on top. Liz Carmouche, 26-8, and Jena Bishop, 11-3, meet for the inaugural PFL women’s flyweight title. Unbeaten Timur Khizriev, 18-0, returns against Gabriel Braga after surviving an armed attack in Dagestan.
Key takeaways
- PFL Chicago on October 16 at the Wintrust Arena has 14 fights, with prelims at 6 p.m. ET on the ESPN App and the main card at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
- Liz Carmouche (26-8), ranked 2nd, meets Jena Bishop (11-3), ranked 4th, for the women's flyweight title, a rematch of the 2025 tournament final.
- Timur Khizriev (18-0) fights for the first time since winning the 2024 featherweight tournament, after being shot 5 times, in a rematch with Gabriel Braga (17-3).
PFL Chicago main event: Carmouche vs Bishop 2
A rematch of the 2025 final
Carmouche and Bishop met in the final of the 2025 PFL World Tournament, and Carmouche won it. The PFL describes her as a pioneer of women’s MMA: she fought in the first women’s bout in UFC history in 2013, served 5 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and has since held the Bellator title.
Bishop’s case for a second chance
Bishop, an IBJJF no-gi world champion and ADCC veteran, has won 2 in a row since that loss, both by first-round submission. The rematch pits Carmouche’s experience against Bishop’s grappling.
The belt on the line
This time it is for the first PFL women’s flyweight title, ranked 2nd against ranked 4th, in the main event of a card that runs 14 fights deep.
Timur Khizriev returns against Gabriel Braga
Back after an armed attack
Khizriev, 18-0, has not fought since winning the 2024 PFL featherweight tournament against Brendan Loughnane. He was shot 5 times during an alleged robbery in Dagestan, and the PFL says he returns after a lengthy recovery from that attack and a broken hand.
A split decision to settle
He beat Gabriel Braga, 17-3, by split decision in their 2024 tournament semifinal, a closely contested fight. Khizriev is ranked 2nd at featherweight, Braga 5th.
Another Khizriev on the card
Gamid Khizriev, 5-0, also fights at the Wintrust Arena, against Michael Boylan on the prelims.
following a lengthy recovery from an armed attack and broken hand
The rest of the PFL Chicago card and how to watch
The main card
Sarvarjon Khamidov, 17-1, meets Rafael do Nascimento at bantamweight, unbeaten Oualy Tandia faces JP Saint Louis at welterweight, and Emiliano Sordi takes on Abraham Bably at light heavyweight.
9 prelims
The prelims include Cassio Barao, Paulina Wisniewska against Chelsea Hackett, and Benita van Rooij. They start at 6 p.m. ET on the ESPN App, with the main card at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.
Follow the card with real numbers
Records, finish rates and our weekly ratings for every fighter on the card are in the FightHub app. Download it to follow PFL Chicago through to October 16.
- Gamid Khizriev gets Michael Boylan at PFL Chicago, 3 months after his twister
- Ilian Bouafia makes his PFL debut against Fabian Edwards at PFL Lyon on December 19
- Michael Page free agent: four straight wins, and the UFC still lets him walk
- Pico vs Keita is official at UFC 333: Arnold Allen withdraws, and the fight Keita announced himself now has a name
