UFC 166's Jessica Eye has no concerns over weight class

(This story appears in today’s edition of USA TODAY.)

UFC newcomer Jessica Eye says if her contemporaries can thrive at bantamweight, she can, too.

Cat Zingano and Rosi Sexton were best known for their work at flyweight earlier in their careers. But when the UFC came calling, both bulked up to fight in the bantamweight (135 pounds) class –the only division the UFC has available to female fighters.

Their results in the octagon were mixed. Zingano stopped Miesha Tate before a knee injury canceled a planned title fight against champion Ronda Rousey. Sexton dropped a decision to Alexis Davis in her debut.

Eye (10-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) joined the UFC in August and makes her promotional debut against former Strikeforce champion Sarah Kaufman (16-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on the preliminary card of UFC 166 (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET). Despite her previous success at 125 pounds, Eye says she’s the same size as Tate. Yet she believes MMA pundits are questioning her ability to compete in a heavier division.

“Because I’ve fought at 125, they think how can I possibly hang with a girl like Sarah?” Eye says.

Although more women’s divisions could open down the road, bantam- weight currently is the only choice. That scarcity often entices fighters in neighboring divisions to compete outside their natural weight class in pursuit of greater acclaim and pay.

Several female contestants on “The Ultimate Fighter 18? reality show, for instance, give up size to their counterparts. It’s the first season of the UFC’s long-running series to feature female fighters, and the women knew it could lead to UFC contracts.

Eye, though, says doubters don’t know what she has to go through to make 125. It involves a strict diet, not eating before the fight and stepping into a sauna to cut excess water weight. She notes even if she weren’t fighting at bantamweight, she could still make the flyweight limit. Her drop would simply be more precipitous and far more taxing.

Weighing 142 pounds at the time of her interview, Eye is relieved to get some wiggle room on the scale.

“I’m up to 20-plus fights between boxing and MMA at 125,” she says. “I’m 27 years old now, and I’m sick of it being that hard. I’m ready to just fight. Let me have my full belly.”

Eye, who has won her last seven bouts, says she’s done everything possible to ensure she’s not at a disadvantage against Kaufman, who makes her octagon debut after a fight vs. Olympic medalist Sara McMann was canceled because of injury.

Eye also is familiar with Houston’s Toyota Center, site of the event. She was in the corner of teammate UFC heavyweight Stipe Miocic when he made his debut there two years ago.

“I’ve been successful thus far because of what we’ve already done,” Eye says. “I’d like to think the UFC (is a) good judge of fighting character – that they think I can handle it.”

For the latest on UFC 166, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.