Jessica Eye and Maycee Barber fight Saturday in UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena. Eye enters this fight with a 15-10 record and has won 73 percent of her fights by decision. Barber enters this fight with a 10-2 record and has won 50 percent of her fights by knockout.
Eye has won split her last 8 fights and is coming off a July loss to Jennifer Maia. Eye is averaging 3.96 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 36 percent. Eye is averaging 0.55 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 44 percent. Eye is coming off a decision loss at UFC 264 where she landed 104 total strikes and ate 102 total strikes. Eye is coming off 3 straight decision losses and as she approaches 36 years old, it’s important she shows there’s something left in the tank here. Eye is mainly known for her striking and her aggressiveness, as she’s often a fast starter and can be a bit sloppy at times due to the amount of shots she throws. Eye doesn’t have much game changing power, but her work rate is why she’s been able to win 11 of her 19 career decisions. Eye doesn’t exactly do anything spectacular, and her ground game is questionable at best, but she’s simply an aggressive, tough fighter who doesn’t mind a brawl. Eye’s cardio, toughness and the fact she’s been finished just twice despite 10 career losses, she has a chance every time she steps in the octagon. This will be Eye’s sixth career fight in Nevada.
Barber has won 6 of her last 8 fights and is coming off an April win over Montana De La Rosa. Barber is averaging 4.45 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 51 percent. Barber is averaging 1.30 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 32 percent. Barber is coming off a decision win at UFC Fight Night 205 where she landed 80 total strikes and produced one takedown. Barber jumps right back into the octagon and could win 3 fights within the calendar year. Barber is a young fighter at 24 years old who comes from a karate background and does some of her best work on her feet. A purple belt in BJJ, Barber has 5 knockout victories, and she puts a lot into her strikes, mixing in punches, elbows and knees well. Barber is a stocky, powerful fighter who swings with intention and is a hell of an athlete. Barber also has some ground ability, and her first pro fight was actually a first round arm bar. There’s true potential with Barber and a win here would do wonders moving forward. This will be Barber’s sixth career fight in Nevada.
This is going to be a nice test for Barber given the quick turnaround and short notice as she replaces Casey O’Neill. However, it’s nothing Barber can’t handle. Barber is the younger, faster fighter at this stage, and she has an edge in striking power as well. While you can never count out Eye’s experience and toughness, she hasn’t looked good in her last few fights, and she’s not getting any younger. Eye has also been out of the octagon for a minute.
Barber should win this fight and build momentum in terms of rankings.