PFL News & FeaturesJena Bishop Wants to Squash Age Narrative in PFL Championship vs. Liz Carmouche
In 2024, Jena Bishop
was just getting into the groove of her MMA career when she had to
endure a promotional change after the
Professional Fighters League purchased Bellator
MMA and its roster.
Not wasting any time, the PFL included Bishop in its women’s flyweight regular season and while she would come up short in that pursuit, she’s done nothing but win in 2025 as part of the World Tournament.
Bishop will be taking on women’s MMA pioneer Liz
Carmouche in the flyweight finals on Aug. 15 in Charlotte,
North Carolina. Getting started later than most in her MMA career,
Bishop has embraced the opportunity PFL has given her, and she
looks forward to the showdown with another veteran.
Speaking to the media after her win over Ekaterina Shakalova, Bishop detailed the relief she had overcoming a rough and emotional camp, what the matchup against Carmouche means to her and how she feels her career is all coming together.
“It’s relieving, I was just so happy,” Bishop said. “You go through so many struggles and the mental battles — that was the hardest part of this whole camp, mentally staying in it. Having breakdowns but then still focusing on the job to do, getting my hand raised, it’s all worth it.”
Now in her second year with the promotion, Bishop believes she’s shown growth and evolution i in every fight.
“Every fight I feel like you can see my progression,” she said. “I’m not stopping. I’m not satisfied with where I was at the previous fight. I want to always be improving. Every fight I’ve had a chance to show I’m getting better and the best version of myself, and it’s going to be a better version the next time you see me.”
At 39 years old, Bishop is the younger woman in her championship fight against the 41-year old Carmouche. Both women want to quiet the narrative around age.
“There’s always that talk about age, but I feel like women peak later athletically,” Bishop said. “When I started MMA, that’s when I was peaking as an athlete and I’m still getting better. That’s a narrative I wanted to squash, and the PFL has given me the opportunity to do that. With me and Liz in the championship, we are going to be the two older women and we’re going to show out. Age is just a number. I’m still getting better, I’m still improving, and I feel like I’m at my best.”
xxx
Not wasting any time, the PFL included Bishop in its women’s flyweight regular season and while she would come up short in that pursuit, she’s done nothing but win in 2025 as part of the World Tournament.
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Speaking to the media after her win over Ekaterina Shakalova, Bishop detailed the relief she had overcoming a rough and emotional camp, what the matchup against Carmouche means to her and how she feels her career is all coming together.
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only get one shot! Watch the Semifinals of the PFL World Tournament
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“It’s relieving, I was just so happy,” Bishop said. “You go through so many struggles and the mental battles — that was the hardest part of this whole camp, mentally staying in it. Having breakdowns but then still focusing on the job to do, getting my hand raised, it’s all worth it.”
Now in her second year with the promotion, Bishop believes she’s shown growth and evolution i in every fight.
Even at 39, Jena Bishop Believes She’s Still Improving
“Every fight I feel like you can see my progression,” she said. “I’m not stopping. I’m not satisfied with where I was at the previous fight. I want to always be improving. Every fight I’ve had a chance to show I’m getting better and the best version of myself, and it’s going to be a better version the next time you see me.”
At 39 years old, Bishop is the younger woman in her championship fight against the 41-year old Carmouche. Both women want to quiet the narrative around age.
“There’s always that talk about age, but I feel like women peak later athletically,” Bishop said. “When I started MMA, that’s when I was peaking as an athlete and I’m still getting better. That’s a narrative I wanted to squash, and the PFL has given me the opportunity to do that. With me and Liz in the championship, we are going to be the two older women and we’re going to show out. Age is just a number. I’m still getting better, I’m still improving, and I feel like I’m at my best.”
xxx
Jena Bishop TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP! She finishes Ekaterina Shakalova with a rear naked choke. #PFLWorldTournament LIVE NOW
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 20, 2025
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