CHICAGO — Jena Bishop has laughed off Liz Carmouche’s prediction that she will fade in the later rounds ahead of their rematch for the vacant PFL women’s flyweight title in the main event of PFL Chicago on Friday night. The submission specialist insists Carmouche has it completely backward, believing she grows stronger as the fight goes on, with a championship on the line and a chance to finally capture the belt she has chased since turning professional.
“Oh I would say it’s the opposite! I think that I get stronger as the fight goes on,” Bishop laughed when asked about Carmouche’s assessment on Wednesday. “I’m kind of a slow starter at times. I love that she thinks that.”
Bishop arrives in Chicago on back-to-back wins and is making her second appearance of the year. “I’ve been doing stuff non-stop, but I love Chicago,” she told Cageside Press among other media. “It’s my second time this year fighting. It’s been great.” Despite her recent form, she stressed there is still work to do, particularly on the feet. “There’s not a lot that changes in the camps. I’m always trying to improve and be better than I was the last fight. Even coming off two wins there’s always room for improvement,” she said. “Always trying to be a better striker and hone those skills. My grappling has been something that I don’t have to focus on as much so I just stick to tightening things up in the striking game.”
For Bishop, victory would mean far more than another win on her record. “It’s getting that belt that means the most to me,” she said. “Just the culmination of everything I’ve been working for. I started MMA, transitioning from Jiu Jitsu, because I thought I could be the champion. That’s just everything that I’ve been working towards.”