Jessica Eye is making a comeback to fighting.
The former UFC flyweight title contender announced on The Ariel Helwani Show on Tuesday that she has signed a contract to compete in BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship).
BKFC also announced the signing of Eye on their social media platforms.
Eye is a seasoned veteran in combat sports, having competed in the UFC for 15 fights from 2013 to 2022. Once a top flyweight contender, she fought for the 125-pound title against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 238 but lost. She ended her UFC career with a four-fight losing streak and an overall UFC record of 5 wins and 10 losses.
The 38-year-old fighter hasn`t fought since losing to Maycee Barber at UFC 276. She told Helwani that she took time off to address health issues.
“I think many people didn’t understand what I was going through towards the end of my UFC career,” Eye stated. “People were confused when I started missing weight and having problems… It turned out I had a parasite. Like that show Monsters Inside Me? Seriously, there was a worm inside me, about this long.”
“I passed that worm about five weeks before my last fight with the UFC in 2022. After that, honestly, I wasn’t ready to retire, but my body was just completely worn out. I had so many health problems that only the UFC really knew about – gallbladder removal, sepsis, E. coli, all these issues. Right before my retirement fight, we finally found the parasite.”
Eye mentioned that her BKFC debut is expected on May 10 in Salt Lake City, and her opponent is yet to be determined. Currently, she is signed for a single fight, but she is open to continuing with BKFC in the future.
Wesley Dunham