UFC 166 Date: Octber 19, 2013 Arena: Toyota Center City: Houston TX Womens Bantamweight bout: Sarah Kaufman (-205) vs Jessica “Evil” Eye (+188) Fight Breakdown: The UFC 166 prelims will feature a women’s bantamweight match-up when veterans Sarah Kaufman and Jessica Eye go head-to-head in their promotional debuts. Kaufman will enter the bout as the betting favorite at -205 ($205 to win $100), with the kickback on the underdog Eye being +188 ($100 to win $188) at Several Bookmakerss. SARAH KAUFMAN (16-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has been one of the biggest names in women’s MMA for years and will finally be making her UFC debut, coming off a split decision victory over the always tough Leslie Smith six months ago. Her lone defeat is sandwiched between a three fight win streak she had strung together came at the hands of current UFC Womens Bantamweight Champion, “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey. Before that, she had put together the three aforementioned wins, including decisions over current UFC contenders Alexis Davis and Liz Carmouche, who will be facing off against each other at UFC Fight Night 31 next month. Kaufman is a good grappler who is generally successful with her takedowns. She owns a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but I don’t believe her skills in the submission game are as good as the color indicates, especially since she owns zero victories by way of tapout. That said, she does have good top control, and works an impressive ground and pound attack, being effective with punches, as well as her elbows. This Jackson-Winklejohn MMA fighter is well-conditioned and always game for war, be it three rounds or five. JESSICA “EVIL” EYE (10-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is riding a seven fight win streak as she enters the Octagon for the first time against her toughest competition to date in the Canadian Sarah Kaufman. Eye has good striking skills and packs power behind her punches, though she doesn’t always find the knockout. Same goes for her submission game; it’s pretty good, but she rarely catches anyone. She is an aggressive fighter who fights with a lot of heart and is hard to finish. The Ohio native is well-conditioned and capable of going three full rounds without tiring, especially now that she isn’t cutting the extra ten pounds to make the flyweight limit, as she is moving up a weight class for her UFC debut. Considering the aforementioned fact, she will be at a size disadvantage against the heavier Kaufman, not to mention a reach disadvantage, although she’ll be one inch taller. Fight Prediction: I don’t think I’ve heard this fight being discussed where someone hasn’t mentioned that Sarah Kaufman is on a decline in her professional mixed martial arts career. I am not saying I disagree with them, however I am not saying that I agree. Yes, it is true that I feel Kaufman has squeezed by in recent victories, but I can’t say that she is on a decline. Leslie Smith and Alexis Davis are very serious threats, so edging decisions against them does not necessarily mean you’re on a decline, I think more than likely it just means your opponents were very good. That said, Jessica Eye is very good, too, but she’s stepping up a weight class for this fight, and the size advantage may play the difference. Gabe’s Pick: Sarah Kaufman by controversial and close Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Gabe’s Recommended Plays: Over 2.5 rounds -220 is the best play to make on this fight and I will be big on it.
