Jessica-Rose Clark
Age: 30
Nationality: Aussie
MMA Record: 9-4, 1 NC
UFC Record: 2-0
Notable Wins: Paige VanZant, Bec Rawlings
Notable Losses: Sarah Kaufman, Pannie Kianzad
Last Fight: Decision win over Paige VanZant
Fighter Profile: One of the best women’s fighters out of Australia, Clark has has been a pleasant surprise in the UFC so far with back-to-back wins over VanZant and Rawlings. She has shown so far that she is a very game fighter with a good striking attack, a solid chin, and the cardio needed to go the full 15 minutes. The judges also seem to like her style. I’m not convinced she has the wrestling chops necessary to get to title contention in the flyweight division, but her striking is definitely good enough to win fights in the UFC. In a brand-new division such as women’s 125lbs, a few more wins could quickly push her up the flyweight ladder.
Jessica Eye
Age: 31
Nationality: American
MMA Record: 12-6, 1 NC
UFC Record: 2-5, 1 NC
Notable Wins: Leslie Smith, Angela Magana, Zoila Frausto
Notable Losses: Miesha Tate, Bethe Correia, Sara McMann, Julianna Pena, Alexis Davis
Last Fight: Decision win over Kalindra Faria
Fighter Profile: Once one of the top female fighters on the planet, Eye has really struggled to find consistency in the UFC. She started off her UFC career without winning her first two fights, only to beat Smith with a vicious TKO when she ripped her ear off. But that victory was followed up by four-straight losses. Eye saved her job with a win over Faria in her last fight, but even that one was a close call as it was a split decision. Eye has pretty good striking and decent grappling but for whatever reason she is just getting beaten to the punch in the UFC. She is getting a fresh chance to turn things in around in the new women’s flyweight division but she really does need to go on a win streak if she wants to make a run for the belt. Eye still has some potential in this sport, but time is running out for her to prove it. It’s make-or-break time for her now.
Fight Breakdown: I’m expecting a very competitive fight here that primarily takes place on the feet. Both women like to stand and trade in their fights and both have the chins and cardio to go the full 15 minutes. I think Eye probably has a bit better technique with her boxing but Clark is more willing to mix it up and throw her strikes in volume and that should help her if this fight goes the full 15 minutes and hits the judges’ scorecards. We have seen Eye lose time and time again when the fight hits the cards and we’ve seen Clark get some favorable decisions in her own favor. Though I expect a close fight, I think Clark is just fighting with a bit more momentum and confidence right now and I believe she will do enough with her standup in this fight to win a hard-fought decision.
Prediction: Jessica-Rose Clark via decision
