Jena Bishop is the new PFL women's flyweight champion.
In the PFL Chicago main event Friday, Bishop (12-3) proved the oddsmakers wrong when she upset Liz Carmouche (26-9) by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) to win title gold for the first time. The event took place at Wintrust Arena in Chicago and streamed on ESPN+.
Carmouche nearly ended the fight in Round 1. She hurt Bishop with a barrage of punches and was unwilling to let her off the hook until the end-of-round horn made her do so. A big bomb right at the end of the round nearly put Bishop out, but she lived to see a second round.
The fight became more even in Round 2. Bishop used her signature jiu-jitsu to weather Carmouche's storm and control the fight. Carmouche found more success on the feet, seemingly hurting Bishop on multiple occasions with her boxing and clinch knees to the body.
Liz Carmouche starts her night in DOMINANT fashion 🔥#PFLChicago | Main Card LIVE NOW on ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/pMBX6kmbix
— PFL (@PFLMMA) October 17, 2026
In Round 3, Bishop shifted into next gear. She dragged Carmouche to the canvas and eventually shifted to the back. She worked for a rear-naked choke and slowly squeezed and cranked. Carmouche toughed it out, though, and somehow survived.
Carmouche came back stronger in Round 4. She appeared to be the fresher fighter, though both women were tired.
Potentially tied on the judges' scorecards entering Round 5, Carmouche found a home for her boxing but got overzealous and wild, and was taken down by Bishop. A few seconds later, Bishop was on Carmouche's back with the body lock. Bishop worked and worked on multiple rear-naked choke submission attempts, but couldn't find what she sought.
JENA BISHOP IS YOUR NEW PFL WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION 🏆
— PFL (@PFLMMA) October 17, 2026
WHAT. A. FIGHT.#PFLChicago | Main Card LIVE NOW on ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/euypjPBylQ
Bishop, 40, has lined herself up for a highly-anticipated showdown with PFL star Dakota Ditcheva (16-0), who revealed Friday she has received medical clearance and will be able to challenge for the title in early 2027.
Bishop and Ditcheva squared off in the cage after the decision. The two have fought once before, in August 2024, when Ditcheva defeated Bishop by first-round knockout.
Bishop enters the bout as champion, on a three-fight winning streak. Ditcheva, 28, has never lost and is 11-0 under the PFL banner.
Up-to-the-minute PFL Chicago results include:
- Jena Bishop def. Liz Carmouche via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
- Timur Khizriev def. Gabriel Braga via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Sarvarjon Khamidov def. Rafael do Nascimento via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:49
- Oualy Tandia def. J.P. Saint Louis via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Eliezer Kubanza def. Trey Waters via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:36
- Emiliano Sordi def. Abraham Bably via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:23
- Kevin Pease def. Cassio Barao via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:28
- Shannon Clark def. Lucero Acosta via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:59
- Gamid Khizriev def. Michael Boylan via TKO (elbows) – Round 1, 3:04
- Cobey Fehr def. Rosario Romero via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 0:58
- Levan Khabalaev def. Brock Hamer via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:01
- Paulina Wisniewska def. Chelsea Hackett via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Noah Hermosillo def. Caden Cox via TKO (body kick & punches) – Round 3, 1:43
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: PFL Chicago results: Jena Bishop stuns Liz Carmouche to win flyweight title