Ronda Rousey Trains Jena Bishop for Carmouche Rematch

Jena Bishop is bringing a UFC Hall of Famer into her corner for the biggest fight of her career. Bishop has been training with Ronda Rousey ahead of her rematch with Liz Carmouche for the inaugural PFL women's flyweight championship, set for the main event of PFL Chicago on Oct. 16 at Wintrust Arena.

The bout will crown the Professional Fighters League's first women's flyweight champion and stands as the promotion's first new title since it merged with Most Valuable Promotions. That alone makes Oct. 16 a notable date on the calendar, but the Rousey connection adds a layer fight fans will want to watch.

Why Ronda Rousey Is In Jena Bishop's Corner

Rousey has unfinished business with Liz Carmouche by proxy. Rousey defeated Carmouche at UFC 157 in 2013, that fight marking her Octagon debut and the first defense of her UFC women's bantamweight title. Now the woman she beat over a decade ago is standing across from her newest training partner in a title fight. Rousey became the face of women's MMA during that UFC run, and her involvement here signals Bishop is serious about closing the gap that showed up the first time these two met.

The Rematch Stakes for Bishop and Carmouche

This is Bishop's second crack at Carmouche after coming up short in their first meeting. Carmouche stopped Bishop in the third round of last year's PFL women's flyweight tournament final, and Bishop has had to rebuild since. She has won her last two, beating Borena Tsertsvadze and Ariane Lipski da Silva to earn this second shot. Carmouche, meanwhile, hasn't slowed down. She enters off a submission win over Viviane Araujo this past June, extending her form right up to the title fight.

That form gap matters. Carmouche is coming in on a finish, Bishop is coming in on decisions over the same stretch, and the only data point fans have on these two head to head still favors Carmouche, who got the finish last time. Bishop needed to change something tangible, not just pad her record, and pulling in a fighter who has already solved Carmouche once in the cage is about as direct a fix as you can make. Whether that translates into a finished checklist item or just sharper footwork on fight night is the question PFL Chicago will answer.

For bettors, this shapes up as a rematch where the market will likely lean toward Carmouche again given the finish on her resume and the recent submission win, but expect the number to be closer than a coin-flip line once oddsmakers factor in Bishop's two-fight win streak and now a notable camp upgrade. Line watchers should track any early moves once official odds post, since camp changes like this one tend to get priced in fast by sharp bettors even before fight week hype kicks in.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Jena Bishop vs. Liz Carmouche rematch?

Jena Bishop faces Liz Carmouche on Oct. 16 in the main event of PFL Chicago at Wintrust Arena, with the inaugural PFL women's flyweight championship on the line.

Why is Ronda Rousey training Jena Bishop?

Ronda Rousey has been helping Jena Bishop prepare for her title rematch with Liz Carmouche; Rousey previously defeated Carmouche at UFC 157 in 2013 in her Octagon debut.

Who won the first fight between Jena Bishop and Liz Carmouche?

Liz Carmouche stopped Jena Bishop in the third round of their first meeting, the final of last year's PFL women's flyweight tournament.