On Saturday night, in the co-main event of the action-packed UFC 238 card in Chicago, Jessica Eye received her first shot at UFC gold opposite flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. Unfortunately for the American fighter and her dedicated fans, this title bid did not go as she planned.
After being soundly out-grappled in the first round, Eye was brutally knocked out by the champion in the second. This head-kick induced beheading was an early front-runner for 2019 Knockout of the Year honors, and immediately stands out as a knockout we’ll be seeing on highlight reels for years to come.
Speaking on Twitter post-fight, Jessica Eye issued a classy statement on this tough loss. The challenger congratulated the champion and thanked her fans for their continued support.
See what she had to say below:
Congratulations @BulletValentina that was incredible head kick. I am thankful for the chance to share the cage with you .
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) June 9, 2019
“Congratulations [Valentina Shevchenko] that was incredible head kick,” Jessica Eye wrote. “I am thankful for the chance to share the cage with you.”
To my true supporters : thank you so much for all you do for me . I am ok and thank you for caring about me . I had a great camp and felt the best I have ever. I made some mistakes that cost me dearly. This fight game can be rough at times but it’s what I signed up for.
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) June 9, 2019
“To my true supporters: thank you so much for all you do for me,” the vanquished challenger added in a followup Tweet. “I am ok and thank you for caring about me. I had a great camp and felt the best I have ever. I made some mistakes that cost me dearly. This fight game can be rough at times but it’s what I signed up for.”
Needless to say, Jessica Eye seems to be in reasonably good spirits despite this tough setback. Perhaps more importantly, she says she’s ok physically — which was a legitimate concern as she lay lifeless under the Jumbotron after being knocked out.
For Eye, this loss derailed a perfect 3-0 start to career in the UFC flyweight division. Time will tell where she goes from here.
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 6/9/2019.