Jena Bishop secured the vacant PFL flyweight championship at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Friday by defeating veteran Liz Carmouche. The victory allowed Bishop (12-3) to avenge a prior loss and immediately established her as the target for the division's most vocal contender.
Bishop overcomes a first-round knockdown to defeat Carmouche
Jena Bishop (12-3) demonstrated significant resilience to claim the title after facing immediate adversity against Liz Carmouche (26-9). as reported by the news brief, Bishop was dropped by a short hook from Carmouche in the opening frame, leaving her struggling to survive the end of the first round.
The momentum shifted during the second round when Carmouche landed illegal shots to the back of Bishop's head, a moment that disrupted the flow of the contest. Despite this setback, Bishop utilized a well-timed trip in the third round to take Carmouche's back, eventually controlling the later stages of the fight to secure the decision.
Dakota Ditcheva targets a February or March title bout
Dakota Ditcheva (16-0) has already positioned herself as the primary challenger following Bishop's victory in Chicago. According to the report, Ditcheva expressed her desire to challenge for the belt in either February or March, noting that she has recently been cleared for full-contact training.
Ditcheva's immediate callout comes as she attempts to navigate her reputation within the sport. While acknowledging that some critics label her a "prima donna," Ditcheva emphasized her readiness to compete despite a history of injuries that have previously sidelined her from training.
The disputed 29-28 scores in the Khizriev-Braga rematch
Timur Khizriev (19-0) maintained his undefeated record in a highly controversial split decision against Gabriel Braga (17-4) during the PFL Chicago co-main event. The decision, which resulted in scores of 29-28, 28-29, and 29-28, was met with audible boos from the crowd at Wintrust Arena.
Khizriev's return to the cage followed a traumatic incident in Makhachkala, Dagestan, where he was shot five times by masked attackers in July 2025. although Khizriev was dropped twice in the second round by Braga, the judges ultimately favored the Tajik fighter, much to the frustration of Braga and the local spectators.
The PFL's dilemma between Bishop and Ditcheva
The PFL now faces a complex matchmaking decision regarding the flyweight division's hierarchy. While Dakota Ditcheva (16-0) has made a vocal demand for a title shot, the promotion must weigh her undefeated record against the grit shown by the new champion, Jena Bishop. Furthermore, the controversy surrounding the Khizriev-Braga scoring may force the organization to address judging consistency in future Chicago events.
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