Former
Professional Fighters League tournament champion Timur
Khizriev will return to competition at
PFL Chicago in October, more than a year after he was injured
in a shooting.
Sources close to the promotion confirmed to Sherdog that Khizriev
will compete for the first time since defeating Brendan
Loughnane to win the 2024 PFL featherweight tournament. He will
face former tournament finalist Gabriel
Braga.
Advertisement
Timur Khizriev faces Gabriel Braga in PFL Chicago rematch after
year-long absence
Khizriev remains undefeated with an 18-0 record. The Dagestani
survived being shot five times during an alleged robbery in his
homeland, an attack that kept him out of action for more than a
year.
The matchup will also be a rematch. Khizriev edged Braga by split
decision in a closely contested 2024 PFL tournament semifinal.
A flyweight
title fight headlines PFL Chicago: Tune in on Saturday, Oct. 16 at
11 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Braga will make his second appearance of 2026 and compete in
Chicago for the second time this year. He previously earned a
unanimous decision over Cheyden
Leialoha there in April.
Khizriev is currently ranked second in the PFL featherweight
division, while Braga occupies the No. 5 position. The result of
their rematch could have significant implications for the
division’s title picture.
The PFL Chicago card will also feature a women’s flyweight title
rematch between Liz
Carmouche and Jena Bishop
in the headliner, along with Alexandr
Shabliy vs. Landry
Ward, Denis
Goltsov vs. Maxwell
Djantou Nana and Sarvarjon
Khamidov vs. Rafael
do Nascimento.