Submission Underground 2 (SUG 2): Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson

Jessica Eye Looking For Revenge at SUG 2

Jessica Eye Looking For Revenge at SUG 2

UFC bantamweight fighter Jessica Eye is looking to switch up her focus at Submission Underground 2.

Dec 10, 2016 by Tony Reid
Jessica Eye Looking For Revenge at SUG 2
UFC bantamweight Jessica Eye will have the opportunity to exact some level of revenge against Miesha Tate at Submission Underground 2.

The two women, still considered the class of the 135-pound collective, will face off in a co-main event for the second time, but this time there will be no punching or kicking involved. Tate and Eye are facing off in a submission-only grappling bout under modified Eddie Bravo International rules and the event will stream live on FloGrappling.com.

"I think it is going to be really neat going against a fellow fighter at such a high level." Eye said. "I have won grappling tournaments in the past. You face competition but they aren't generally high level fighters. This is different. I get to go against a very high level fighter and former UFC champion in Miesha. It will be really fun and cool experience."

Many in the combat sports community are still buzzing about the first SUG event. The second showing will bring a new level of name recognition and star power as the main even features the greatest mixed martial arts fighter of all-time, Jon Jones, facing off against MMA and wrestling icon Dan Henderson.

Clearly, grappling is one aspect of the all-encompassing mixed martial arts game fighters routinely play. The SUG events offer a fun and, more importantly, financially viable avenue to pursue away from straight mixed martial arts competition. Eye sees it as a very enjoyable alternative to getting punched and kicked on a regular basis.

"It is exciting that we have the opportunity to do fun events like this." Eye said. "Obviously getting hit in the face hurts. It hurts leading up to it. It hurts when it happens and it hurts after the fact. Grappling is just as hard but it's different. I'm sure Jon, Dan and Miesha would all agree with me that it makes it more exciting to go up against a high level fighter like yourself in the art of grappling. It takes away some of the pressure and the fun comes to the surface."

Eye is at a crossroads in her mixed martial arts career as she finds herself on a very dangerous four fight losing streak inside the Octagon. Many fighters have received pink slips after similar streaks of bad breaks and a lack of success in competition. In September she committed to stepping back and taking a year off from the grueling grind of the sport.

That time off does not necessarily consist of time away from the gym but time away from the added responsibilities and stressors of knowing she is meeting certain fighter on a certain night.

"When I say I am taking time off I mean I am taking time off from the pressures of feeling like I have a fight coming up." Eye said. "I am still doing things to make myself better. When I have a fight scheduled every thought, every moment, everything is scheduled to the point of it being uniformed. My years of success have not come from living that life so I am rewinding, relaxing and enjoying this moment."

Over the years Eye is best known for exhibiting her striking prowess in the cage on the regular but she warns that spectators at SUG 2 better watch out for her new and improved grappling game come Sunday.

With her announced downtime from MMA competition many might assume her sole focus would be on the ground leading up to the big grappling match. That couldn't be further from the truth. Eye is still keeping all of her skills sharp, even at her teammate's expense.

"Last Thursday I knocked one of my teammates out cold." Eye said. "That was the first time I boxed in two weeks. I have been focusing more on my grappling and giving it a fair chance. How can I expect to get better at it if I don't put in the extra time that it needs? I have just given it the extra time. Since the Bethe fight I bit through my lip. I had to let that heal. I enjoy working out. I enjoy being in shape and training all the time."