Five Things You Might Not Know About Jessica Eye

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Jessica Eye (14-6 1NC) is the No. 1 contender in the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s flyweight division. In her next contest, the 32-year-old will attempt to dethrone divisional queen Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event of UFC 238, which takes place at the United Center, in Chicago, Illinois on June 8.

As we approach the title fight, here are five things that you might not know about Eye.

She was a car crash victim

Eye was 16 years old when a drunk driver ploughed into her while she and her father were fixing her car by the side of the road. The future combatant suffered a broken back and numerous other injuries which left her incapacitated for three months. Having fought her way back to full fitness, the determined teenager saw out her high school days competing the in long jump. Today, Eye looks back at the accident as being pivotal in ultimately providing her with the motivation to forge a successful mixed martial arts career.

She more often than not gets the job done by decision

Across 14 professional triumphs, Eye has emerged victorious on 10 (71 percent) occasions via decision. The Cleveland, Ohio, native has not recorded a win by stoppage since her second-round TKO of Leslie Smith at UFC 180 in November 2014. The ensuing four-and-a-half years have seen “Evil” compile a 3-4 record. All seven of those bouts were decided by the judges.

She likes to engage her opponents on the feet

“Evil” is known for her boxing-centric approach, which focuses on quick hands, impeccable footwork and a diverse range of punching combinations. The 32-year-old often intersperses looping punches to the head with uppercuts and hooks to the body. Although proficient in all aspects of the game, Eye generally eschews the ground in favor of keeping the action on the feet. The Ohioan’s formidable takedown defense has enabled her to do this in her many of her fights.

She had a challenging upbringing

Due to her parents splitting up when she was young, Eye was separated from her mother, and the pair were not reunited until Eye was 16. Growing up, the future pugilist had a somewhat turbulent relationship with her father. However, when he was diagnosed with brain cancer, they reconciled. Eye would go on to raise $30,000 for her father’s medical bills. In an interview with Cosmopolitan Magazine, she said, “My upbringing brought me to the greatest thing in the world that I’m so happy I’m doing: fighting.”

She has competed in two weight divisions

The 5’6’’ Ohioan embarked on her professional MMA career as a flyweight. It was not until her 12th contest and UFC debut that “Evil” made her official bantamweight bow versus Sarah Kaufman in October 2013.

After participating in a further six clashes at 135 pounds with the Las Vegas-based promotion, Eye returned to flyweight for a matchup with Kalindra Faria at UFC Fight Night 124 in January last year. She emerged victorious by split decision. Following a further two triumphs at 125 pounds, she earned herself a first-ever crack at the title against Shevchenko.