Jessica Eye

Early life

Jessica Eye was born in Rootstown, Ohio. When she was 16 years old, a drunk driver plowed into Eye and her father Randy while they were walking on the roadside. She suffered a broken back, among other injuries, and was bed-ridden for three months. She credits this incident with creating her drive towards success in mixed martial arts. She graduated in 2005 from Rootstown High School and Maplewood Career Center. She then attended the University of Akron, but never finished her four-year degree.

NAAFS and ROC

Eye made her amateur debut in mixed martial arts (MMA) in June 2008. She was undefeated as an amateur, winning five matches in total and becoming the first North American Allied Fight Series (NAAFS) amateur women's champion on December 5, 2009.

In June 2010, Eye made her professional MMA debut with North American Allied Fight Series in her native state of Ohio, defeating Amanda LaVoy by TKO (elbows). She defeated Marissa Caldwell in her second pro bout.

Eye became the Ring of Combat (ROC) 130 lbs women's champion on February 4, 2011, defeating Ashley Nee by TKO (punches).

She suffered her first loss on June 4, 2011 in an NAAFS professional women's flyweight championship bout against Aisling Daly.

Eye returned to NAAFS to face Angela Magaña in the main event at NAAFS: Rock N Rumble 6 on August 17, 2012. She defeated Magaña by unanimous decision.

Bellator Fighting Championships

Following her first professional loss, Eye signed with Bellator Fighting Championships. She made her debut in September 2011, defeating Casey Noland by split decision at Bellator 51.

After winning two fights for NAAFS, Eye next competed at Bellator 66 on April 20, 2012. She was originally scheduled to face Aisling Daly in a rematch, but Daly withdrew from the fight due to an ear infection. Eye faced Anita Rodriguez instead and defeated Rodriguez by unanimous decision.

In her third fight with Bellator, Eye defeated then-champion Zoila Frausto Gurgel at Bellator 83 on December 7, 2012, winning with a standing arm-triangle choke in less than one minute. The bout was a non-title bout.

Eye was set to face Munah Holland at Bellator 95 on April 4, 2013. However, Eye suffered a back injury during practice that left her temporarily unable to walk and she was forced to withdraw from a fight for the first time in her career.

On June 1, 2013, Eye defeated Carina Damm by unanimous decision at NAAFS: Fight Night in the Flats 9.

Along with Jessica Aguilar, Eye was released by Bellator on August 13, 2013 following the dissolution of its Women's division. Aguilar and Eye were the last remaining female fighters on the Bellator roster.

Bantamweight division

In August 2013, Eye signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), moving up to the bantamweight division. The anticipation surrounding her debut was covered by USA Today and FoxSports.com.

In her first fight with the promotion, Eye faced Sarah Kaufman at UFC 166 on October 19, 2013. She won the fight via split decision. However, in February 2014, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation changed the result to "no decision" with no reason initially given for the change. It was later revealed that Eye had failed her post-fight drug test after testing positive for marijuana and was subsequently fined $1,875 and put on probationary suspension for a year.

Eye faced Alexis Davis on February 22, 2014 at UFC 170. Eye lost the fight via split decision.

She then fought Leslie Smith at UFC 180, winning the fight due to doctor stoppage.

In March 2015, it was announced that Eye would face Miesha Tate on July 25, 2015 at UFC on Fox: Dillashaw vs. Barão 2, with the victor expected to receive a shot at the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship. Eye expressed confidence heading into the bout, stating, "I know I'm better everywhere it goes. The striking, cage work, ground, everything." Tate remarked that she expected "the best Jessica Eye that anyone has ever seen," and called Eye a tough opponent. Eye lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Eye returned to face Julianna Peña at UFC 192 on October 3, 2015. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Eye next faced Sara McMann at UFC Fight Night 88 on May 29, 2016. She lost the fight via unanimous decision. She fought Bethe Correia at UFC 203 on September 10, losing by split decision. Afterward, Eye announced that she planned to take a year-long hiatus from MMA competition.

She agreed to a grappling-only rematch with Miesha Tate at a Submission Underground show on December 11, 2016, which was won by Tate in overtime. In May 2017, she announced plans to compete in the UFC's newly created 125-pound flyweight division.

Eye was scheduled to face Aspen Ladd on July 7, 2017 at The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale. However, the day of the event Ladd fell ill and the bout was canceled.

Return to flyweight

In August 2017, ESPN reported that Eye would make her UFC flyweight debut against Paige VanZant at UFC 216 on October 7.

Fighting style

In a 2015 interview, UFC president Dana White said the following about Eye:

She's got great takedown defense, terrific hands and she's got that special something about her. She's a fighter, man. She's one of those fighters like I talk about, who is pure fighter. When it's go time, she's as tough as there is, and she loves it.

Known as an agile striker, Eye is largely recognized for exceptional hand speed and her use of variety. During exchanges, she often utilizes quick jabs, looping hooks, combinations, and body shots. Against Leslie Smith at UFC 180, she landed 32 strikes in the first two minutes.

In a 2015 commentary, ESPN's Brett Okamoto noted that Eye "makes a concerted effort to pick opponents apart, dart in and out, move laterally and work behind her jab." However, he also described her as predictable at times due to her extensive focus on boxing. Following Eye's UFC debut, Gregg Doyel of CBSSports.com called her "a skilled striker with fast hands." Damon Martin of FoxSports.com has described Eye as "one of the best strikers" in women's MMA.

In addition to her boxing, she makes regular use of body kicks. She is also known for her active striking during a clinch. When pressing an opponent against the cage, she normally attacks with knees, elbows, and uppercuts.

In popular culture

In July 2015, Eye was considered for the cover of Cosmopolitan as part of a feature on female athletes. She modeled for the article and discussed how her upbringing had led her to become a fighter. Elizabeth Narins, the publication's fitness and health editor, called Eye "strong and amazing".

A re-mixed version of the song "Till I Die", by Machine Gun Kelly, references Eye.

In March 2016, Eye was featured in Pressure Life, a Cleveland-based theme magazine. She also appears as a playable character in the video game EA Sports UFC 2.