PFL Chicago: Carmouche vs. Bishop 2 Prediction, Betting Preview & Fighters to Watch

Date: Friday, October 16, 2026 Early Card: 6:00 PM ET Main Card: 11:00 PM ET Location: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois TV/Streaming: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes & ESPN App Main Event: Liz Carmouche vs. Jena Bishop 2 — PFL Women’s Flyweight World Championship

PFL returns to Chicago with history on the line as Liz Carmouche and Jena Bishop meet for the second time, this time to crown the inaugural PFL Women’s Flyweight World Champion. Carmouche enters ranked No. 2 at flyweight with a 26-8 record, while No. 4 Bishop brings an 11-3 mark into the rematch.

Carmouche vs. Bishop 2 Fight Preview

Their first meeting came in the 2025 PFL World Tournament final, where Carmouche stopped Bishop with punches at 2:56 of the third round.

The fight was competitive before the finish. Bishop threatened Carmouche with submissions from the bottom, but Carmouche remained composed before eventually dropping Bishop with a left hand and finishing with follow-up strikes.

Since then, both fighters have remained impressive.

Carmouche submitted former UFC contender Viviane Araujo with a second-round guillotine choke in June, extending her winning streak to four. PFL notes that the former Bellator champion has won 13 of her last 14 fights.

Bishop responded to the Carmouche loss with consecutive first-round submissions. She defeated Borena Tsertsvadze by rear-naked choke before submitting Ariane Lipski da Silva with an armbar in June.

That recent form makes the rematch considerably more intriguing.

Carmouche owns the greater MMA experience and is the more proven striker. Her 26 victories include 11 knockouts, seven submissions and eight decisions, demonstrating that she can win in every phase.

Bishop is far more specialized.

Seven of her 11 professional victories have come by submission, and her background includes an IBJJF No-Gi World Championship and ADCC experience. Her greatest opportunity will come if she can force extended grappling exchanges and create the submission openings that nearly caused Carmouche problems in their first meeting.

Carmouche should try to make Bishop work to reach those positions.

She can attack with low kicks and straight punches, defend the initial takedown attempts and make Bishop absorb damage while closing distance.

The biggest difference may be Carmouche’s adaptability.

She has fought elite competition across multiple generations and has successfully transitioned from a powerful wrestler into a complete mixed martial artist capable of finishing opponents with either strikes or submissions.

Bishop must prevent the fight from settling into Carmouche’s rhythm.

Top 4 Betting Angles

Widely available major-book odds were not yet consistently posted at the time of this preview, so these are the markets to watch rather than invented prices.

Prop Bet #1: Liz Carmouche Moneyline

DraftKings

4.5/5

Tip: Liz Carmouche Moneyline

• Experience Advantage
• Won First Meeting
• Four-Fight Winning Streak

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Carmouche is the overall selection.

She has already defeated Bishop once and enters with advantages in experience, striking and proven championship-level composure.

Prop Bet #2: Fight Does Not Go the Distance

FanDuel

4.6/5

Tip: Fight Does Not Go the Distance

• Submission Threat
• Five-Round Format
• Previous Fight Ended Early

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Their first fight ended in Round 3, and both have produced finishes since.

Carmouche owns 18 career finishes, while Bishop has seven submissions among 11 victories. Five rounds provide plenty of time for another stoppage.

Prop Bet #3: Liz Carmouche by KO/TKO

Caesars

4.4/5

Tip: Carmouche by KO/TKO

• First-Fight Result
• Striking Advantage
• Ground-and-Pound Threat

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Carmouche by knockout or technical knockout is the strongest method-of-victory option.

She stopped Bishop with punches in their first meeting and can recreate that advantage if she consistently forces Bishop to defend striking exchanges rather than initiate grappling.

Prop Bet #4: Jena Bishop by Submission

BetMGM

4.5/5

Tip: Bishop by Submission

• Seven Career Submissions
• Elite BJJ
• Underdog Upside

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Bishop by submission is the strongest alternative.

She has finished her last two fights during the opening round and nearly caught Carmouche from the bottom during their first encounter.

Keys to Victory

Liz Carmouche

• Keep the fight at striking range early.
• Attack Bishop’s legs and body.
• Avoid unnecessary grappling exchanges.
• Defend the initial takedown and separate.
• Use ground-and-pound if she gains top position.
• Trust her experience over five rounds.

Jena Bishop

• Close distance without absorbing combinations.
• Force Carmouche into grappling exchanges.
• Attack the back during scrambles.
• Threaten submissions from top and bottom.
• Avoid prolonged striking exchanges.
• Remain patient if an early submission is unavailable.

Fighters to Watch

Liz Carmouche: The former Bellator champion and 2025 PFL World Tournament winner attempts to add another championship to an already historic career.

Jena Bishop: One of the division’s most dangerous submission specialists gets an opportunity to avenge her only PFL loss and become the inaugural champion.

Timur Khizriev: The undefeated former PFL featherweight champion returns at 18-0 against Gabriel Braga in the co-main event.

Gabriel Braga: The Brazilian pushed Khizriev to a split decision in their first meeting and receives a long-awaited opportunity for revenge.

Sarvarjon Khamidov: The 17-1 bantamweight faces Rafael do Nascimento in another important main-card matchup.

The Verdict

Prediction: Liz Carmouche by Fourth-Round TKO

Best Bet: Liz Carmouche Moneyline

Best Supporting Prop: Fight Does Not Go the Distance

Best Method-of-Victory Bet: Liz Carmouche by KO/TKO

Long-Shot Bet: Jena Bishop by Submission

Bishop should be dangerous early.

Her improved submission game means Carmouche cannot casually accept bottom position or expose her neck during scrambles.

But Carmouche has already experienced Bishop’s best grappling positions and still found a way to take control of their first fight.

Expect the veteran to fight more cautiously during the opening rounds, using low kicks and straight punches while making Bishop work to establish grappling.

As Bishop begins slowing, Carmouche’s physical pressure and striking should become increasingly effective.

The championship rounds favor the fighter who has spent years competing at the highest level.

Liz Carmouche wins by fourth-round TKO, defeats Jena Bishop for the second time and becomes the inaugural PFL Women’s Flyweight World Champion.