By the Numbers: Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Eye

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Newly minted Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is set to make her first title defense against No. 1-ranked Jessica Eye. Since returning to 125, Eye has gone 3-0, beating Kalindra Faria, Jessica Rose-Clark and Katlyn Chookagian. As she takes a stab at gold, peek into the numbers that may just define their UFC 238 encounter at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Age and professional experience

At 32 years old, Eye is a year older than Shevchenko and also has one professional fight more than her. The American currently holds a record of 14-6. However, Shevchenko started her professional mixed martial arts career much earlier in Kyrgyzstan, which was as far back as 2003. It wasn’t until seven years later when Eye made her professional debut in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.

Before joining the UFC, Eye spent time at Bellator MMA, North American Allied Fight Series and Ring of Combat. Shevchenko, meanwhile, sports a record of 16-3, with stints in the UFC, Legacy Fighting Championship, and various promotions in different countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea and Peru.

Finishing rate

With seven wins by submission and four by KO or TKO, Shevchenko registers a 69 percent finishing rate. Her stoppage victims in the UFC are Julianna Pena and Priscila Cachoeira. Only five of her 16 career victories came by decision. Eye, on the other hand, has not stopped an opponent since Leslie Smith in 2014. She has a total of three wins by KO or TKO and one by submission, making for a 28 percent finishing rate.

Significant strikes landed in UFC competition

Eye has appeared in the Octagon 10 times and has landed a total of 513 significant strikes. That number is only almost a hundred more than Shevchenko’s 416. The big difference is that the Kyrgyzstani-Peruvian has only had seven UFC appearances. This isn’t much of a surprise though, as Shevchenko is a decorated kickboxer with 58 professional bouts. In addition, she also fought in pro boxing twice.

Takedowns landed in UFC competition

With 17 takedowns, Shevchenko also leads the wrestling department. Her most in a single fight was against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at five and against Sarah Kaufman at four. Eye, on the other hand, has scored five takedowns in UFC competition. She landed three on Faria and one each on Peña and Rose-Clark.

UFC losses

Of Eye’s six career losses, five were in the UFC. She lost by decision to Alexis Davis, Miesha Tate, Peña, Sara McMann and Bethe Correia. Since the loss to Correia at UFC 203, however, Eye has been on a three-fight winning streak.

Meanwhile, Shevchenko has lost only three times in her pro career, and two of those happened in the Octagon. She fought her heart out but dropped two close decisions to Amanda Nunes. Her other loss, though not in the UFC, was dealt by current UFC fighter Liz Carmouche.