UFC On ESPN 10: Cynthia Calvillo Makes Her Name Known In The Flyweight Division Against Jessica Eye

A new division and a top contender did not stop Cynthia Calvillo from making an impact in her first five-round affair. The former strawweight was able to control former title challenger Jessica Eye for five rounds at UFC on ESPN 10. Inside the UFC’s APEX Center, Calvillo won the contest via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)

Looking to spice things up, Calvillo (9-1-1) was able to strike away while utilizing her ground game. One-two combinations were the name of the game throughout the night, as both were able to land clean shots. It was Calvillo, however, whose shots would come off crisper. Eye (15-8, 1NC), who missed weight before the fight, tried with jabs and combinations, but Calvillo was getting in the pocket to test her early on.

Following the first round, Calvillo looked upset and signaled to her corner that she had to pick up the pace. She ended up doing just that, controlling the bout through the next few rounds.

Calvillo landed a barrage of lefts that landed to the body and face of Eye. She would end up landing a takedown to Eye, one of four landed. Eye was able to get back up but Calvillo had the back of Eye, tiring her out. Back on the floor, Calvillo pounded away while looking for an arm submission. By round three, Eye was tired and Calvillo landed a huge kick to the head. Eye managed to hit a right but Calvillo denied her with another takedown.

Calvillo, who hadn’t been in the championship rounds before, looked tired but still ready to compete. She landed another takedown, this time early in the fight. With a lot of room to cover, Calvillo had her chance to take the bout once and for all. After two minutes on the ground, Eye got up and hit some rights, backing Calvillo up before the end of the round.

Eye needed one round to show she could change her fortunes and started swinging away. Her corner called for the “gas pedal” and Eye tried giving it a go. Calvillo would end up hitting a spinning back fist and another takedown. The round ended with both returning to the center of the octagon following hammer fists by Calvillo.

Flyweights!

You have a new contender! 👏 #UFCVegas2 pic.twitter.com/caXFHk2XgU

— UFC (@ufc) June 14, 2020

Calvillo ended up landing 137 total strikes compared to Eye’s 97 and had over 7:46 of control time. Her strikes reached the high twenties throughout the bout, as Eye struggled to maintain the same numbers following a 28-strike round one.

Calvillo is now on a four-fight unbeaten streak and is 3-0-1 in her last four. There were talks of her becoming a contender after this fight. One fighter might have taken exception to that, as Katlyn Chookagian expressed interest in facing Calvillo.

Gimmie gimmie @cyn_calvillo @ufc #UFCVegas2

— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) June 14, 2020

Eye is now 2-2 in her last four fights. The number-one ranked flyweight has missed weight for two fights in a row now since losing to Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC Flyweight Title in June 2019.

UFC on ESPN 10 Main Card (ESPN/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

Cynthia Calvillo def. Jessica Eye via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)

Marvin Vettori def. Karl Roberson via rear-naked choke (4:17 into round one)

Charles Rosa def. Kevin Aguilar via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Andre Fili def. Charles Jourdain via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Jordan Espinosa def. Mark De La Rosa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

Mariya Agapova def. Hannah Cifers via rear-naked choke (2:42 into round one)

Prelims (ESPN/ESPN+,  7 p.m. ET)

Merab Dvalishvili def. Gustavo Lopez via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)

Julia Avila def. Gina Mazany via TKO (:22 into round one)

Tyson Nam def. Zarrukh Adashev via KO (:32 into round one)

Christian Aguilera def. Anthony Ivy via TKO (:59 into round one)