Interview with Jessica "Evil" Eye

Jessica Eye prepares to headline Ohio's first ever all-female MMA event on September 18 in Akron

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Jessica “Evil” Eye is certainly a familiar name to anyone that follows the Cleveland mixed martial arts scene. Jessica is a fan-favorite and always gets the crowd going with her exciting style of fighting. Though she only recently turned professional, Jessica will be putting her undefeated record on the line in the main event of the upcoming NAAFS Eve of Destruction on September 18. Eye, fighting out of Strong Style Mixed Martial Arts outside of Cleveland, will be taking on Marissa Caldwell of Vision MMA (Cincinnati, Ohio) in the main event of the first all-female fight card to take place in Ohio which is promoted by the NAAFS, one of the most well-respected regional MMA promotions in the U.S. ProFighting-fans.com staff writer Curt Heinrichs caught up with Jessica to discuss her upcoming fight.

CH - Women’s MMA is relatively a new concept. How long ago did you start training, and what made you decide that this was a lifestyle that you wanted to lead?

Eye - I started training when I turned 19. I met my coach through some mutual friends and he convinced me to start training. I had played soccer since I was really young, but I was looking for something new. I started hitting mitts and then I moved onto training Brazilian jiu jitsu. I was raised by my dad and I have always been a little bit of a tomboy.

CH - Being a female mixed martial artist is not your average, everyday profession. If you weren’t doing what you do, what other career path would you have taken?

Eye - I would probably be doing something involving the body. I went to college for business, but I didn’t like that as much as I thought I would. If I would have stayed, I would have changed to something in the health field.

CH - What is the strangest comment you have ever heard in regards to you being a fighter?

Eye - I don’t really hear things too often, but the one I hear the most is: “You are a pretty girl. Why would you want to get pounded for a living?” I hate that people see that I am a girl and they don’t believe that I am a fighter. I shaved off my eyebrows to prove that I am committed to fighting.

CH - What does a typical week of training consist of at StrongStyle? Do you train specifically for your next opponent or do you sharpen your skills as needed?

Eye - I don’t train specifically for any opponent. Shortly before my fights, I work on defending against my opponent’s strengths, but mostly I just try to get better all-around. I haven’t been doing this for very long, so I can always get better.

CH - StrongStyle is well-represented and well-respected in the local MMA scene. What teammate do you spend the most amount of time working with?

Eye - I am really lucky to have awesome coaches. I spend the most time with Marcus Marinelli. He makes sure I am heading in the right direction with my training and dieting. Then, I spend a lot of time with Pablo Castro.

SD- What is your athletic background?

Eye - Growing up I played as many sports as I could. I was a soccer player for about seven years. Then I did basketball, track, softball - I mean I played them all.

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CH - In your last fight, we saw stand-up striking, some clinch work, and some ground and pound. What area of your game do you feel is your strongest?

Eye - Honestly, I love the clinch. I like to strike, too. I started my training with Brazilian jiu jitsu, but I love muay thai. I like to strike, in general, but I strive to be a well-rounded fighter.

CH - In your last fight at Fight Nite in the Flats IV, you pounded Amanda LaVoy into a TKO finish by using mostly ground and pound. Was the gameplan going into the fight to take it to the ground or did you find that it was working and you kept at it?

Eye - I found something that worked and stuck with it. My game plan was to use my stand-up. I wanted to use lots of overhand rights. I knew she was a kicker and when we went to the ground that neutralized her kicking. I just wanted to keep her close and let her have it.

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CH - In your in-cage interview following the LaVoy fight, you said something along the lines of “I’ve fought tougher opponents. You’re not that strong.” What was said leading up to the fight or during the fight that caused you to make those comments?

Eye - She is a rude, rude girl. I am not usually one to do a lot of trash talking, but in this case, I was. I felt like she was rude to the organization (NAAFS). She acted like she was inconvenienced the whole time. She wouldn’t shake my hand after I beat her. I just felt disrespected. That’s why I said all of that.

CH - Now that you’ve improved your professional record to 1-0 (6-0 overall), you will look to improve against Marissa Caldwell of Vision MMA. What can you tell us about Marissa?

Eye - I have an idea that she is a ground fighter, mostly a ground fighter. She looks like she has a solid wrestling background and I have heard we have similar training camps. I have also heard that striking is a new style for her. I am not new to striking. I plan on using that to my advantage.

CH - Does the fact that you are fighting in front of a largely Northeast Ohio crowd change how you approach the fight?

Eye - Not really, I have been on the big stage before. I have fought as the main event 3 times in my career. I won the boxing amateur title at 125 lbs back in May. I am really ready to fight in the heart of Akron. I have never fought there, and I grew up around there so it will be good to fight in Northeast Ohio, with my friends and family supporting me. I grew up in Cuyahoga Falls and my dad and I moved to a tiny town called Rootstown. Then I moved to Akron for college and I am in Cleveland now. It will be fun to show Akron what I’ve got.

CH - Has anyone at Strong Style mentioned that your team is 0-2 against Vision in recent years and does that push you to score a win for your team?

Eye - Absolutely! I want to get the win no matter what, but I especially want to win for my team. First of all, I plan on winning for myself, but for my team as well. I think it is funny that people say “oh we are 2-0 against you.” I plan on changing all of that. Actually, there has been a lot said about the fight on the NAAFS Facebook page about this fight and she said she would bet me her fight purse. I am a girl of my word and I say if she knocks me out I will give her my fight purse. I think it is only fair that if I knock her out, I get to take her fight purse. I am that confident.

CH - Do you have any teammates that we should look out for in that event (Eve of Destruction)?

Yeah, watch out for Deanna Biesan. That girl is unbelievable. She is a great teammate and she loves to train. She is 18 and is just out of high school. It means the world to me to train with Deanna.

CH - Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

I want to thank my teammates at Strong Style. My coaches Marcus, Pablo, and Cal. Chick-O-Stick - That’s where I get my punching power. I also want to thank John P. Lennon, Chris Lozano, Steve, Joe Highland. They are a huge part of my inspiration. Thank you!

By Curt Heinrichs
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer