Jessica Eye is undefeated at flyweight and is now set to fight for the title against champion Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event of UFC 238.
When Eye got the call to say she was fighting for the title, it was a surreal moment for her and her team.
“Well my heart started to race and I was like oh my god this is really happening. This what I have been waiting for,” Eye said to BJPENN.com. “I hope you mean the second time because they asked me to headline the Czech card in February. But, I’ve had a problem where I’ve been biting through my lip and making my two front teeth loose. So we have been worried about losing them so my doctor wouldn’t clear me. They then said if I couldn’t take the fight then they would give it to someone else. But it ended up working out for me. But, it is still a couple of days away, but as soon as I walk out I’ll believe it then.”
Although Eye is getting the title shot, she’s got a tall task in front of her. She is a +700 underdog according to Bovada. Despite her underdog status, she’s confident she’ll leave the cage with the belt.
“I’ve always been the underdog in my fights. It is nothing new,” she said. “It doesn’t really bother me.”
Jessica Eye can already envision a path to victory. She believes Shevchenko has never seen a style like hers and she’ll bring the fight to the champ.
“I have my ideas. She is a counter striker and we all know that,” Eye explained. “We haven’t seen anyone pressure her the way I know how to. My pressure, my ability to come forward will be a factor in this fight.”
Not only would the win be huge for her and her career, but Eye knows what it would mean to her team at Xtreme Couture as well. So many fighters never get this chance and she is ready to take full advantage to show the gym that this is possible.
“I really want this opportunity for my team and I. I want this really bad. Just for my brother, my coach,” Eye said. “Even for Gray Maynard who never [won a UFC belt]. I’m sure it will happen. I’ve worked really hard and had some failures and now I’m fully believing in myself.”
At Xtreme Couture, Jessica Eye has been preparing for the fight with the likes of Kevin Lee, Miesha Tate and countless other high caliber fighters. Having those type of fighters around her will be a huge benefit to her in this fight, she says.
“There are people that are a fighter by occupation, but I’m a fighter by heart and by choice. I’ve really taken to that,” the title challenger explained. “Getting to see guys like Kevin Lee at the gym, I have never been around this many UFC fighters before. I’ve had more girls to train with. I am loving that I have new people to train with. I can’t wait to win this and I feel in my heart I will.”
In the end, Jessica Eye is more than confident in her skills and her team’s game plan to win the fight. She knows she has the cardio to push Shevchenko for five hard rounds, but she’s hoping it doesn’t go that far.
“I’m really hoping for a finish, but I’m prepared for five hard rounds,” Jessica Eye concluded. “My I don’t care meter is pretty high right now.”
Who do you think will win the fight between Jessica Eye and Valentina Shevchenko?
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 6/4/2019.