Jessica Eye unfazed by quick turnaround for bouts at UFC and Submission Underground

Jessica Eye is looking forward to an action-packed month.

Prior to getting the call to headline the UFC’s June 13 card vs. Cynthia Calvillo, Eye (15-7 MMA, 5-6 UFC) was already booked to compete at Submission Underground 15 on June 21.

Eye’s plan is to compete in both, as she wasn’t about to turn down a main event opportunity in the UFC.

“Oh yeah! Of course! Why wouldn’t I?” Eye asked MMA Junkie. “I’m truly inspired by some of these other athletes. Most of all, college wrestlers. These guys compete at a high level every weekend, back to back to back to back. I’m not going to not compete in a grappling match, it’s a five-minute round.”

The Submission Underground bout vs. Amanda Loewen was secured first after Eye was initially told there were no UFC fight spots available for her in June. But when that situation changed and she was handed the opportunity to compete in a main event, she jumped at the chance.

“It was literally a last-minute phone call,” she explained. “I’m actually already scheduled to do a Submission Underground in June, so I’ve already been training just to stay active. Obviously, the job is always to be the champ. It’s like always the end goal and obviously any fight that I can get in before – any main event, any high-level fight that I can get in for experience before I fight again – it’s just going to make me better. So when (UFC matchmaker) Mick (Maynard) called and asked if I wanted an opportunity, I took it. I’ve been utilizing this entire time training.”

The doors of Eye’s training base at Xtreme Couture officially opened this week as she looks to put the finishing touches to her preparation for her first UFC main event. But although her gym has been closed throughout the pandemic, and despite getting the call on short notice, Eye said she’s been training the entire time.

“My entire house was set up into a home gym,” Eye said. “I bought a real sauna, I have real mats, I have wall mats, I have incredible training partners that are around and quarantined themselves with me this entire time because the fights are never-ending.

“Until I retire, I’m always gonna stay training, I’m always gonna be trying to look to do better, I’m always gonna be on top of it so I’ve created a great little system for myself and it’s worked out really great, and I’m pumped.”