Just days after receiving her release from Bellator, it appears as though Jessica Eye (10-1, 0-0 UFC) may have already found her new home. Multiple sources with knowledge of the signing have confirmed with Ohio MMA News (www.ohmma.com) that Eye is expected to sign with the UFC, and that the signing is expected to be announced in the coming days.
After news broke Monday night that she was released from her Bellator contract and that the women’s division was dissolved in the organization, Eye reportedly fielded multiple offers and was a hot commodity on the free agent market. Currently ranked No. 1 in the 125-pound division, Eye is expected to move up to 135 pounds to compete in the only division that the UFC currently offers for women.
Although she went 3-0 in her time in Bellator including a win over the organization’s only female champion in Zoila Gurgel, Eye most recently competed for in Ohio NAAFS at “Fight Nite in the Flats IX” in June, where she put on a dominant performance against veteran Carina Damm.
No debut date or opponent has been set for Eye yet, but word on her first opponent could come soon, especially with the booming popularity of women’s MMA in the UFC, stemming from the popularity of unbeaten champion Ronda Rousey, as well as the inclusion of women for the first time on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter 18.
Eye is also expected to be in attendance at next weekend’s NAAFS: Rock N Rumble 7 event in Cleveland, where she will be signing autographs.