PFL 2025 World Tournament Dark Horse: Jena Bishop

The Professional Fighters League will continue with its grand prix this Friday at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, where the bantamweight and women’s flyweight quarterfinals step into the spotlight at PFL 2025 World Tournament First Round 2. The women’s flyweight division was taken by storm a year ago, as Dakota Ditcheva emerged as a genuine superstar for the company and burst onto the global stage.

With Ditcheva cemented as the 125-pound champion and newest star in the PFL, the women’s flyweight tournament will feature several familiar names who competed in the 2024 regular season. Even with veterans like former Bellator MMA champions Liz Carmouche and Juliana Velasquez present, one name should not be overlooked: Jena Bishop.

Fighters only get one shot! Watch the PFL World Tournament LIVE Friday, April 11 at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2..

In her first run with the PFL, Bishop came in as a relatively Unknown Fighter on the big stage but took advantage of her opportunities throughout the regular season. She started the year with a victory over Chelsea Hackett, then dropped a split decision to Taila Santos in which many thought she did enough to earn a win. After the loss to Santos, Bishop would get another crack in the playoffs, but her run came to an unfortunate end when she was defeated by the aforementioned Ditcheva. Now back for the 2025 world tournament, Bishop will face Kana Watanbe in the tournament quarterfinals, as she looks to bounce back in a big way and looks for her chance of redemption. Although Ditcheva is not in the tournament, Bishop has an opportunity to face either Velasquez or Ekaterina Shakalova if she can get through her first matchup against Watanbe. Her path to a championship fight in the tournament would see her face multiple veterans.

Known for her superior ability on the ground, Bishop is a dangerous fight for any woman she faces, especially if it goes to the mat. The biggest reason for Bishop’s spot as the dark horse in this tournament is that she showed surprising talent in the striking department during her fight with Santos last season. Many expected Bishop to be a fighter who predominantly would take fights to the ground, having four of her seven career wins by submission, but she proved to be more than just a one-dimensional specialist. If Bishop’s progressions have continued in her career since her last fight, she could not only turn to what she knows best but also be even more adept in the striking department. That could catch her opponents off-guard.

Bishop has been here before as an Unknown Fighter with a specific specialty background who earned the respect of everyone after her performances under the PFL banner. While she may not be as overlooked as she was ahead of the 2024 season, she has an opportunity at revenge, glory and a tournament championship. With the tournament’s win-and-advance reality, she can simply fight her fight and do what she does best.