Jessica Eye Confident Heading Into Cynthia Calvillo Fight
Speaking from experience, Jessica Eye is wary of Cynthia Calvillo’s transition to the flyweight division. Regardless, she won’t take it easy on Calvillo when the UFC returns to Las Vegas on Saturday, June 13.
Eye (15-7, 1NC), the number one ranked flyweight in the UFC’s flyweight standings, will be main eventing a fight card taking place inside the UFC’s APEX Center. Not only is this a huge opportunity for her, but it is also a way for her to reclaim her spot as a contender. She will also try and prove that the size of the fighter matters.
Fighting at flyweight to start her career in 2010, Eye joined the UFC in 2013 and immediately changed divisions. This was due to the lack of opportunities at the time for women. In seven fights at bantamweight, Eye went 1-5 with one no-contest in seven fights. Returning to flyweight in 2018, Eye has gone 4-1. She thinks the move from strawweight to another division won’t be ideal for Calvillo, based on her own experience.
“I am jacked about how much I know my size will play into a factor with this,” Eye stated to MMA Junkie. “I remember going up a weight class and thinking that, ‘Oh, I can hang with them.’ You know what I mean? ‘It’s hard to make flyweight, but I can hang with bantamweights’ – and that’s not true. That wasn’t true. It really wasn’t.”
Calvillo (8-1-1) fought at flyweight once, in her MMA debut back in 2016. She made her strawweight debut a year later and joined the UFC in March 2017. The 32-year-old was 5-1-1 in the division, missing weight in two bouts. Her last bout was a majority decision draw against Marina Rodriguez in December. As a strawweight, Calvillo is ranked tenth in the rankings.
Eye sees this as an opportunity to beat all comers, while Calvillo is hoping to break new ground and make an impact. Fighting for the UFC Flyweight Title and losing, Eye’s desire for gold still burns. When it comes to her future goals, Eye is more than ready to protect her spot as the top opponent for champion Valentina Shevchenko.
“I know Cynthia is a gamer,” Eye went on to say. “I’m sure this has got to heighten her sense. I’m sure she’s bringing her A-game. She’s fighting the No. 1 girl. This could be a big jump for her. This could be a big day for her, you know what I mean?
“I could see why she would want the fight, and you know why I want the fight? Because I want to prove that no matter who they put in front of me, I am as good as I believe I am and as good as I know I am, and I like winning. I like winning, and it’s all about a win.”
The main card of Calvillo v. Eye starts at 9 p.m. ET.