Jessica Eye
Jessica Eye (born July 27, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle fighter, best known for her tenure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women's flyweight division.[1] Nicknamed "Evil," she began her professional MMA career in 2010 after an undefeated 5-0 amateur run, compiling an overall professional MMA record of 15-11 with one no contest.[2][3] Eye made her UFC debut in October 2013, going 5-9 with one no contest during her eight-year stint, highlighted by a title challenge against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 238 in June 2019, where she lost by knockout in the second round.[2] Key victories included a second-round TKO over Leslie Smith at UFC 180 in 2014 and split decision and unanimous decision wins against Katlyn Chookagian at UFC 231 in 2018 and Viviane Araujo at UFC 245 in 2019.[2] Hailing from Barberton, Ohio, and training out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Eye stood 5 feet 6 inches tall with a 66-inch reach, fighting in the orthodox stance and earning a reputation for her striking and resilience despite a challenging late-career skid of four consecutive losses.[1][4] After announcing her retirement from MMA in July 2022 following a unanimous decision loss to Maycee Barber at UFC 276—her fourth straight defeat—Eye transitioned away from the sport, expressing interest in professional wrestling.[5] However, she returned to combat sports in June 2025, securing a unanimous decision victory over fellow UFC veteran Mariya Agapova in her bare-knuckle debut at BKFC 76, marking her first win in nearly three years.[6]Early life
Family and upbringing
Jessica Eye was born on July 27, 1986, in Akron, Ohio, and raised in the small town of Rootstown, located southeast of Cleveland.[1][7] She grew up in a large, extended family that included her father, Randy Eye, her mother, Colleen Eye, an older brother named Randy, a younger brother Nick, and a stepsister Jennifer, alongside half-siblings from her father's other relationships.[7] Her childhood was marked by an active, outdoorsy lifestyle, where she earned the nickname "Jessie Joe, the Misfit" for her energetic participation in sports and tomboyish pursuits, though the household was overshadowed by her father's recreational drug use.[7] Eye endured a deeply abusive relationship with her father, who subjected her and her siblings to severe physical and emotional violence starting from a young age. Specific instances included brutal beatings, such as one at age 14 that left her severely injured and prompted her father's arrest on charges of child endangerment and domestic abuse.[7][8] The abuse persisted into her early adulthood, culminating in a violent altercation on her 26th birthday, after which she severed ties with him permanently.[8] At age 16, Eye's life was further altered by a traumatic car accident in 2003, when her car broke down on a dark country road and her father arrived to help, prompting a drunk driver to strike her and sideswipe the vehicles, pinning him between the cars and causing her to suffer a broken back (fracturing her T5 and T6 vertebrae), a broken ankle, and other injuries that left her bedridden for several months.[7][9][10] Her father required reconstructive surgery on his legs, and the extended recovery period for Eye involved wearing a back brace and relearning basic mobility, profoundly testing her physical and mental limits.[7][9] These family challenges and personal traumas significantly shaped Eye's development, fostering a remarkable resilience that helped her channel adversity into determination. The cumulative impact of the abuse and accident ignited her interest in combat sports as a means of empowerment and healing during her recovery and early adulthood.[7][8][9]Education and early interests
Jessica Eye graduated from Rootstown High School in 2005, where she actively participated in soccer, basketball, and track, showcasing her athletic inclinations from a young age.[11] After high school, she enrolled at the University of Akron to pursue studies in business technology but ultimately did not complete her degree, as personal circumstances—including ongoing family challenges—interrupted her academic path.[12][7] As a hyperactive child growing up in a tumultuous household marked by paternal abuse and a debilitating car accident at age 16 that fractured her back, Eye turned to sports and outdoor activities as essential outlets for processing her trauma and channeling her energy.[9][13][7] Despite medical prognosis suggesting she might never walk or compete in sports again following the accident, Eye's resilience led her to return to track within six months, reaching state championships and reinforcing her commitment to physical pursuits as a means of empowerment and recovery.[13]Mixed martial arts career
Amateur beginnings
Jessica Eye began training in mixed martial arts in late 2007 at the age of 21, after discovering the sport while working as a waitress and receiving an invitation from fighters at Strong Style Martial Arts & Fitness Center in Cleveland, Ohio.[7] With no prior combat experience, she dedicated herself to the gym, quitting her job to focus on training part-time while working at a sporting goods store, culminating in approximately seven months of preparation before her competitive debut.[7] This entry into MMA was influenced by her challenging family background, including an abusive upbringing, and a severe car accident at age 16 that broke her back and ankle, which had initially limited her participation in other sports but ultimately fueled her drive for physical and mental resilience.[7][9] Eye made her amateur debut on June 7, 2008, at NAAFS: Fight Night in the Flats 4, defeating Kari Ricker by TKO (punches) in the third round.[3] She maintained an undefeated record through her first five bouts, all under the North American Allied Fight Series (NAAFS) promotion, showcasing finishes in four of them while adapting to the demands of competition as one of the few women entering the male-dominated Ohio MMA scene at the time.[3] As a beginner, Eye faced challenges in balancing intense training sessions with ongoing recovery from her past injuries, which required careful management of her physical conditioning to avoid setbacks while building the endurance needed for fights.[7] Her amateur victories included:| Date | Opponent | Event | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 7, 2008 | Kari Ricker | NAAFS: Fight Night in the Flats 4 | TKO (Punches) | 3 | 1:53 |
| December 6, 2008 | Barb Honchak | NAAFS: Night of Champions 2008 | Decision (Split) | 3 | 3:00 |
| June 6, 2009 | Amy Kurrelmeyer | NAAFS: Fight Night in the Flats 5 | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 0:48 |
| October 9, 2009 | Marcia May | NAAFS: Caged Fury 7 | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | 1 | 1:29 |
| December 5, 2009 | Marie Colangelo | NAAFS: Night of Champions 2009 | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 |