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Dakota Ditcheva and Jena Bishop face off in the SmartCage after the PFL Women's Flyweight World Championship 🍿 #PFLChicago | Main Card LIVE NOW on ESPN 2 https://t.co/ysS4fjjyVX

— PFL (@PFLMMA) October 17, 2026

In August 2025 at the Professional Fighters League World Tournament Finals, Jena Bishop was stopped by Liz Carmouche in the third round. Since then, she has maintained that the stoppage was premature and vowed to avenge the loss.

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In the main event of Friday’s PFL Chicago 2 at Wintrust Arena, Bishop did just that. She survived a punishing opening round and outlasted Carmouche (26-9) in a back-and-forth battle to capture the vacant PFL women’s flyweight championship.Jena Bishop avenges Liz Carmouche loss with 48-47 decision at PFL Chicago 2 Carmouche rocked Bishop with punches in the first and dominated the rest of the round with ground-and-pound, earning 10-8 scores from all three unofficial Sherdog scorers. Bu…

Sherdog's live PFL Chicago coverage will begin Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.

A flyweight title fight headlines PFL Chicago: Tune in on Friday, Oct. 16 at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN 2.

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Round 1 Featherweights light the fuse for PFL Chicago inside Wintrust Arena, where Hermasillo (1-0, 1-0 PFL) locks horns with Cox (2-0, 0-0 PFL) at 145 pounds. Kevin MacDonald polices the proceedings.Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 HermosilloSean Sheehan scores the round: 10-9 HermosilloMike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Hermosillo Round 2 Sherdog Scores Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 CoxSean Sheehan scores the round: 10-9 CoxMike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 CoxRound 3 Could be deadlocked at a round apiece here. Cox steps forward with punches from both hands, then eats an overhand left on the return. Hermosillo circles on the outside, lands a body kick and changes levels, only to be denied of the takedown. Cox using jabs and crosses to keep his counterpart at ba…

Mike Malott has reflected on his career ahead of his Ultimate Fighting Championship main event against Joaquin Buckley.

Malott recalled repeatedly being told while growing up that becoming a UFC fighter was an unrealistic dream. Ahead of UFC Edmonton, he says the headlining opportunity serves as a reminder of how far he has come.

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Mike Malott reflects on childhood doubts ahead of Joaquin Buckley fight at UFC Edmonton Malott headlined a UFC event for the first time earlier this year, defeating Gilbert Burns at UFC Winnipeg in April. He is set for his second headliner, facing Buckley at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on Oct. 17.

He recalled being smaller than most of his peers and facing skepticism when he spoke about his UFC ambitions.

“It’s probably kind of odd for people who knew me growing up to see this,” Malott said in a pre-fight interview. “I was kind of the runt of my year as, you know, smaller than like almost every other kid gro…

Ivan Gnizditskiy has secured an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract despite missing his scheduled appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series.Ivan Gnizditskiy signs UFC deal after visa issues derail Contender Series appearance The unbeaten Russian light heavyweight’s manager, Ali Askarov of Crown Sports Management, confirmed the signing to MMA Junkie. Gnizditskiy (7-0) is expected to make his promotional debut in December.

Gnizditskiy was scheduled to face Nell Ariano (6-1) on DWCS Season 10 but withdrew because of visa issues. The 30-year-old has since signed directly with the UFC.

Gnizditskiy has finished all seven of his professional victories, six by knockout or technical knockout and one by submission. He competed twice in One Championship in 2025 before stopping Tursunbek Sodikov in his most recent bout in March.

Charles Oliveira believes Carlos Prates has the tools to dethrone Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight titleholder Islam Makhachev.

Prates is expected to challenge for the 170-pound championship next year. Oliveira, who has fought Makhachev, believes Prates’ knockout power and openings exposed by Ian Garry bode well for “The Nightmare.”

Charles Oliveira believes Carlos Prates can exploit Islam Makhachev's openings with kicks and knockout power Makhachev went the distance against Garry in his first welterweight title defense, with the Irishman enjoying moments of success against the Russian. Oliveira, who trains alongside Garry, believes Prates can capitalize on vulnerabilities revealed during the champion’s last fight.

“I think Garry showed Prates the blueprint,” Oliveira told Sherdog. “I usually say these matchups will be close, but this time, I believe Prates has a real chance to win. Beyond being a sniper, he possesses knockout power and is a black belt in ji…

Raoni Barcelos and Raul Rosas Jr. have reunited in Las Vegas following their Ultimate Fighting Championship main event.

The two bantamweights recently crossed paths and posed for a photo together. Barcelos remains in Las Vegas undergoing medical tests to determine what caused him to lose consciousness during his stoppage loss to Rosas Jr. at UFC Vegas 121 last month.

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Raul Rosas Jr. shares message of respect as Raoni Barcelos continues medical tests after UFC Vegas 121 Barcelos was ahead on the judges’ scorecards entering the fifth round before losing consciousness during a wrestling exchange. Referee Herb Dean stopped the bout, and Rosas Jr. was awarded a technical knockout victory, snapping Barcelos’ five-fight winning streak.

The Brazilian veteran was transported to a hospital for evaluation after being removed from the Octagon on a stretcher. The UFC subsequently confirmed that he was stable, alert and responsive. The 39-year-old later reassure…

Ki MMA is considering adopting elements of Pride’s rules as the new promotion looks to distinguish itself from other mixed martial arts organizations.

Rich Chou, the promotion’s executive vice president of athlete relations, discussed the possibility on “Bowks Talking Bouts,” saying officials are exploring ways to make competition more exciting for fighters and fans.

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Rich Chou discusses Pride-inspired rules for Ki MMA's 32-fighter featherweight Grand Prix Chou said Ki MMA is examining existing rule sets alongside other ideas as it develops its approach to competition.

“That is in the discussion,” Chou said. “We’ve said Pride quite a bit. Yeah, who didn’t love Pride, right? Some of my favorite fights, some of the greatest fights in the history of the sport. There really was no greater spectacle for MMA and for us, it was the same kind of adoration and love for K1 on the kickboxing side. We’re looking at all those options and then some. Some that I t…

Manel Kape views Joshua Van as an easy matchup.

Kape is a leading contender for a title shot against the Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight champion. “Starboy” is confident he would dominate Van, claiming he has beaten tougher opponents than the reigning 125-pound titleholder.

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Manel Kape predicts Joshua Van will be too slow, citing Anderson Silva's knockout of Forrest Griffin In a recent interview with Daniel Cormier, Kape said he would have a speed advantage against Van. He predicted their bout would resemble Anderson Silva’s first-round knockout victory over Forrest Griffin at UFC 101.

“I know the power that I possess, I know the skill I possess,” Kape said. “When I say this fight is going to be too easy, it's going to be too easy. He's going to be very slow. The way he throws punches is going to be slow to me. This fight is going to be like Anderson Silva against Forrest Griffin. I apologize: I love Forrest Griffin, but it's going to be li…

Valter Walker has escalated his war of words with Alex Pereira.

Walker has responded to the former Ultimate Fighting Championship two-division titleholder’s sparring offer. Pereira is scheduled to fight Walker’s Gor MMA teammate Sergei Pavlovich next.

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Valter Walker asks Alex Pereira for a Las Vegas ticket after foot-submission wager Walker previously predicted that Pavlovich would knock out Pereira when they meet at UFC 335 in Las Vegas on Dec. 12. Pereira subsequently challenged Walker to spar and offered to pay him the equivalent of Walker’s last fight purse if he could submit Pereira.

In an Instagram video alongside his coach, Gor Azizyan, Walker questioned whether Pereira had followed through on his offer to arrange travel to Las Vegas.

“Poatan, I’m still waiting for that ticket,” Walker said. “Buy it, and I’ll head straight to Las Vegas to get a hold of your foot. If you don’t want me grabbing your foot at the Performance Institute, no p…

Farid Basharat has addressed his departure from the Ultimate Fighting Championship in a statement on social media.

Basharat (16-0) completed his contract with a victory over John Garza in July and wasn’t offered a new deal despite going unbeaten in the promotion. In his statement, Basharat reflected on his UFC tenure and questioned the organization’s direction.

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Farid Basharat says the UFC never offered a new contract after his unbeaten seven-fight run Basharat went 7-0 in the UFC after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, with six of those victories coming by decision. He confirmed his departure on Instagram, saying he competed under unfavorable circumstances and never declined a fight.

“The news is confirmed, I am no longer with the UFC,” Basharat wrote on Instagram. “I’ve had an incredibly successful time in the organization. I’m proud and happy with what I’ve accomplished inside the Octagon. I leave with a stainless record. Hold…

Paulo Costa has renewed his criticism of fighter pay in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

A resurfaced clip shows UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland asking former light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson about his biggest UFC payday. Jackson said he earned $7 million, including pay-per-view compensation, for fighting Chuck Liddell. Costa contrasted that figure with his estimate of what a current UFC fighter earns.

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Paulo Costa compares Rampage Jackson's claimed $7 million payday with estimated Raoni Barcelos earnings Jackson attributed the payday to a contract he signed with World Fighting Alliance, where he said his manager also had a promotional role. According to Jackson, the deal included lucrative pay-per-view terms that the UFC inherited when its parent company acquired WFA assets in December 2006.

“$7 million, Chuck Liddell, that was pay-per-view, though,” Jackson told Strickland. “I left Pride. My manager, he became lik…

Henry Cejudo believes Alex Pereira needs more heavyweight victories before challenging for another Ultimate Fighting Championship title.

Pereira is scheduled to face Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. However, he believes he deserved a title rematch against Ciryl Gane, who will instead defend his heavyweight championship against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

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Henry Cejudo wants Alex Pereira to win two or three heavyweight fights before another UFC title shot Cejudo believes Pereira (13-4) received preferential treatment in reaching title contention in two divisions. “Triple C” pointed to Pereira’s opportunity to fight Gane for the interim heavyweight championship in his divisional debut at UFC Freedom 250. He argues that Pereira must now build a winning record at heavyweight before receiving another title shot.

“It’s a part of him being spoiled too,” Cejudo said on the “Po…