Paige VanZant vs. Jessica Eye Targeted For UFC 216
Paige VanZant vs. Jessica Eye Targeted For UFC 216
The UFC is targeting match between Paige VanZant and Jessica Eye for UFC 216.
By Damon Martin
The UFC women's flyweight division -- a new weight class announced late spring -- is off and running.
A matchup between Jessica Eye and Paige VanZant is currently in the works for UFC 216 in Las Vegas on October 7 with the bout expected to take place at 125 pounds.
Sources close to the matchup confirmed the news to FloCombat on Monday with verbal agreements in place from the fighters. UFC officials have yet to confirm the bout so any potential fight is still subject to change.
Eye (11-6, 1 NC) has long rallied for the UFC to add a women's flyweight division. Prior to her move to compete in the Octagon she was ranked as one of the top 125-pound fighters in the world.
Eye was originally supposed to return in July, but her opponent Aspen Ladd was pulled off the card at the last minute after falling ill. Immediately after the cancellation, Eye announced her intention to move back to 125 pounds for her next fight in the UFC.
Photo Credit: © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Meanwhile, VanZant (7-3) will look to make her first appearance in the flyweight division after spending her entire career competing at the 115-pound weight limit.
VanZant reportedly struggled with her weight cut in the lead-up to her last fight against Michelle Waterson in December 2016.
This fight will also serve as the first for VanZant since moving away from Sacramento to train full-time in her new home in Oregon.
The matchup between Eye and VanZant will help kick off the women's flyweight division. "The Ultimate Fighter," which launches on August 30, will also crown its first-ever UFC women's winner at 125 pounds this season.
UFC 216 is expected to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on October 7 with more fights including the main event expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The UFC women's flyweight division -- a new weight class announced late spring -- is off and running.
A matchup between Jessica Eye and Paige VanZant is currently in the works for UFC 216 in Las Vegas on October 7 with the bout expected to take place at 125 pounds.
Sources close to the matchup confirmed the news to FloCombat on Monday with verbal agreements in place from the fighters. UFC officials have yet to confirm the bout so any potential fight is still subject to change.
Eye (11-6, 1 NC) has long rallied for the UFC to add a women's flyweight division. Prior to her move to compete in the Octagon she was ranked as one of the top 125-pound fighters in the world.
Eye was originally supposed to return in July, but her opponent Aspen Ladd was pulled off the card at the last minute after falling ill. Immediately after the cancellation, Eye announced her intention to move back to 125 pounds for her next fight in the UFC.
Photo Credit: © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Meanwhile, VanZant (7-3) will look to make her first appearance in the flyweight division after spending her entire career competing at the 115-pound weight limit.
VanZant reportedly struggled with her weight cut in the lead-up to her last fight against Michelle Waterson in December 2016.
This fight will also serve as the first for VanZant since moving away from Sacramento to train full-time in her new home in Oregon.
The matchup between Eye and VanZant will help kick off the women's flyweight division. "The Ultimate Fighter," which launches on August 30, will also crown its first-ever UFC women's winner at 125 pounds this season.
UFC 216 is expected to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on October 7 with more fights including the main event expected to be announced in the coming weeks.