Jessica Eye is back in the win column.
For the first time since November 2014, Eye, a Cleveland-based mixed martial artist out of Strong Style Gym in Independence, earned a split-decision victory over Kalindra Faria in the featured bout of the UFC Fight Night prelims at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
Eye earned the 12th win of her MMA career with 29-28 scores on two of the three judges’ cards. The third judge scored the bout 29-28 in favor of Faria.
“Hey, fighters! Takedowns win fights,” Eye said in her post-fight interview on UFC Fight Pass.
“Nobody cares if you can punch. Nobody cares if you kick. They want to see you wrestle, so you know what, to all you doubters, I can (freaking) wrestle. I’m right here. I’m here. I’ve been waiting a long time. Not my best, but the best is yet to come, baby.”
According to FightMetric, Eye outpointed Faria, 53-52, in total strikes, but Faria had a 38-25 edge in significant strikes. However, Eye more than made up the difference with three successful takedowns in four attempts and six tries at a submission.
Faria scored only one takedown and attempted just one submission in the 15-minute fight.
Prior to the win over Faria, Eye lost four straight bouts, including three unanimous-decision setbacks and one split-decision defeat in her last fight, against Bethe Correia in the featured preliminary matchup at UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena in September of 2016.
After starting her career with a 10-1 record, Eye lost five of her seven fights in the UFC with one no contest, but all of the bouts under the banner of the world’s premiere MMA organization ahead of Sunday’s win over Faria were at bantamweight.
Eye’s preferred weight class is flyweight, which has a newly instated division within the UFC.
“Line ‘em up, baby,” Eye said of her next challenge. “Evil’s got all the time in the world for you.”
Following the win, an emotional Eye thanked her coaches from Strong Style, namely head coach Marcus Marinelli and striking coaches Joe Delguyd and Alex Cooper, and just like her teammate, heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, wants to reward them with a UFC title run in the near future.
“A huge shout-out to these three amazing men right here, and the other ones that weren’t able to be here,” Eye said.
“Marcus, Joe, Alex, I’m sorry for all of the bull (expletive) I’ve put you through over the past couple years, but we did it, baby. We got this win. You can’t take this from me because I earned it, so watch me earn that gold title. I will. Mark my words. Put it on your calendar.”
