Women's flyweight contender Jessica Eye has, in fact, heard the selective groans from unimpressed fans at the idea of her headlining Saturday's UFC Fight Night card against Cynthia Calvillo.
In case you're wondering, the former title challenger known as "Evil" Eye could care less.
"I hear a lot of people saying something about this card but I think it's going to be one of the best ones, just like [UFC president] Dana [White] has been doing," Eye told CBS Sports' "State of Combat" podcast on Wednesday. "All of the UFC fight cards that I have been on have all been bangers and have been great. Whether it goes [the distance] or lasts just one minute, it's going to be entertaining. Either stay tuned or miss out.
"I hope people will take a look and maybe they will see something they really like and can learn something. But if they don't, so be it."
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One week after two-division champion Amanda Nunes capped off an exciting UFC 250 card, the promotion's UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas will play host to a women's main event once again (9 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+). Not only have oddsmakers been split as to who will win, the fight is also an important one for the 125-pound division, which has yet to consistently produce worthy challengers for Valentina Shevchenko's title.
The 33-year-old Eye (15-7, 1 NC) came up short against Shevchenko last year in the co-main event of UFC 238 when she was stopped via violent head kick. It was her only defeat, however, in five fights since moving to down to her natural fighting weight upon the creation of the division. Eye also entered her lone title opportunity with injuries to her back and elbow, which have both been fixed.
Eye wasn't willing to necessarily commit to the idea that a spectacular performance could lift her right back into a title rematch, although just the idea of her name atop the marquee has fueled her excitement entering this weekend.
"It's pretty frickin' awesome. It's surreal to me," Eye said. "I probably won't even realize that it's really a main event fight until I'm walking out. History is definitely being made as we have two female main events, back to back. I think that's pretty gnarly."
Eye's reinvention as a flyweight has been impressive and came at a point of desperation following just one win in her first seven UFC fights, all at bantamweight. She's be facing a tough opponent in Calvillo (8-1-1) who is looking for her own transformation after moving up from strawweight.
The 32-year-old Calvillo finally made the move to flyweight after multiple issues making weight. Although she's fresh off a competitive majority draw against Marina Rodriguez in December, she'll need to overcome a natural size disadvantage against Eye, who said the quarantine allowed her to get into the best shape of her life by training at home.
"Let's just say, I'm going to look like a specimen and I can't wait for the accusations and for people to testify and say, 'Oh, she did this,'" Eye said. "I'll tell you what I did do, I worked hard this entire quarantine and I ate the food, I relaxed and drank the booze when I wanted to. I literally stayed home and focused 100% on building myself to be better.
"I really don't think [Calvillo] remembers how big I really am and how strong I am, but I will prove it. I will, I will prove it. She won't want these hands and she won't want to be anywhere in that Octagon with me. I'll show why I'm dangerous. I will, I will do it."
Though when both stepped on the scale on Friday, it was Eye who had the trouble, missing weight by 0.25 pounds and visibly shaking on the scale before apologizing to media members for not making it and not being able to continue the cut. Calvillo made weight within the 1-pound allowance at 126.
The fight being held as a main event moves its potential distance from three to five rounds. Eye believes she would hold an advantage either way because she's the better fighter.
"[Calvillo] is great and obviously a tough chick but there is nothing that compares to Jessica Eye and my abilities," Eye said. "I don't really care what other people think, I don't really care what other people think they know or what they want to bet against. I just know what happens in this cage and I know how good I really am. I'm going showcase it and she's a tailor made opponent for me considering she's a scrapper and I like to scrap. I just feel like I'm the more technical and well-rounded fighter. And I'm a vet. Thirteen years in this sport goes a long way. Sometimes you have to put the big sister gloves on and show girls what's up."
In addition to Eye and Calvillo are 10 other fights for fans to devour on Saturday night. In the co-main event, Marvin Vettori takes on Karl Roberson in a middleweight bout. These two have gone back and forth over the last month as new rivals with Roberson withdrawing from a scheduled bout a month ago, causing Vettori to lose it on him and his team in the hotel lobby. This week, Roberson missed weight by five pounds and fueled even more rage from the Italian. That and much more to look forward to on Saturday night as we check out the full card and odds below from William Hill Sportsbook.
Fight card, odds
- Cynthia Calvillo -135 vs. Jessica Eye +115 -- Women's flyweights
- Marvin Vettori -220 vs. Karl Roberson +180 -- Middleweights
- Andre Fili -230 vs. Charles Jourdain +180 -- Featherweights
- Jordan Espinosa -165 vs. Mark De La Rosa +140 -- Bantamweights
- Mariya Agapova -280 vs. Hannah Cifers +230 -- Women's strawweights
- Merab Dvalishvili -900 vs. Gustavo Lopez +600 -- 140-pound catchweights
- Kevin Aguilar -180 vs. Charles Rosa +155 -- Lightweights
- Julia Avila -575 vs. Gina Mazany +425 -- Women's bantamweights
- Tyson Nam -135 vs. Ryan Benoit +115 -- Flyweights
- Jordan Griffin -170 vs. Darrick Minner +145 -- Featherweights
- Anthony Ivy -170 vs. Christian Aguilera +145 -- Middleweights
How to watch UFC Fight Night: Eye vs. Calvillo
Date: June 13 | Location: UFC Apex -- Las Vegas, Nevada
Time: Prelims: 7 p.m. ET | Main card: 9 p.m. ET
Stream: ESPN+ | Channel: ESPN
Prediction
Despite the relative lack of fanfare heading in because it was surprisingly tabbed to close the show, Eye-Calvillo is an interesting fight with plenty of potential to be a fun scrap given the dog inside of each one. It has also become a virtual pick 'em from the standpoint of betting after Eye initially opened as a slight favorite with Calvillo now favored after a difficult weight cut for her opponent.
Both fighters have history of pushing a fast pace over three rounds. And even though there's an unknown element as to who might have a conditioning advantage should the fight go the five-round distance, the real unknown element is how well Calvillo will deal with a full-fledged flyweight who spent most of her career at 135 pounds.
Eye is very strong in the clinch and throws cleaner punches compared to Calvillo's volume style of flurrying. How quickly Eye adjusts to the footwork and movement of Calvillo will go a long way in allowing her to dictate the space and distance.
Given that neither is known as a knockout threat and both are scrappy enough to go for broke, the element which separates them could be cleaner striking. As long as Eye can match Calvillo's volume and do enough to establish her size advantage as a bully, this is a fight she can win.
Pick: Eye via majority decision
Who will win Eye vs. Calvillo, and how exactly will each fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on every fight on Saturday's card, all from the accomplished expert who's up more than $20,000 and has hit nine straight main event winners.
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