Preview: UFC Fight Night 132 ‘Cerrone vs. Edwards’

Women’s Flyweights
Jessica-Rose Clark (9-4, 1 N/C) vs. Jessica Eye (12-6, 1 N/C)
Odds: Clark (-130), Eye (+110)

As the line indicates, this is a closely-matched fight between well-rounded competitors who do lack one overwhelming skill set. “Jessy Jess” has been able to employ a size and strength advantage in tie-ups and on the mat with former strawweights in her first two UFC appearances. That will not play against Eye, a long-time 135er. The Aussie is a solid boxer with pop in her left hook and right cross. She remains somewhat hittable, but counters oncoming opponents well. But her output waned worryingly in the third round against Paige VanZant, even as VanZant had a broken arm and was forced to circle and kick exclusively. The Syndicate MMA fighter is a capable takedown artist from the clinch, can sweep her way up from bottom, and is very heavy on top, landing moderate but effective ground and pound.

“Evil” Eye is similar to Clark in many ways. The Cleveland native comes from a boxing background but used her wrestling to seal a desperately needed win against Kalindra Faria in her last outing. Eye has fought a much higher caliber of opponent than Clark has faced, often battling competitively but coming up short. This is because she struggles to put her stamp on rounds and fights. The Strong Style Fight Team stalwart can go through long bouts of inactivity or make head-scratching in-cage decisions. But rarely is she thoroughly outclassed.

This is a toss-up between an as-yet untested commodity and a thoroughly inconsistent one. I will side ever so slightly with Eye, with much trepidation. She knows what it is to be on the wrong side of contentious decisions, and finally made the moves she needed to get her hand raised in such a fight against Faria. Her improved fight IQ coupled with vastly more high-level experience carry her to victory here. After taking a round to get going, Eye uses her hand speed, cardio, and occasional takedowns to eke out another decision victory.

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