A second women’s bout has now been added to the UFC 170: “Rousey vs McMann” card, which takes place on February 22nd in Las Vegas, Nevada. Highly-touted jiu-jitsu black belt Alexis “Ally-Gator” Davis faces fast-rising star Jessica “Evil” Eye in a featured bantamweight contender’s matchup.
UFC officials announced the fight on Monday night. Davis has won seven of her past eight fights and she sports a perfect 2-0 record inside the UFC. Eye made a big statement in her Octagon debut in October by outpointing former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Sarah Kaufman at UFC 166.
Davis (15-5-0) has amassed a stellar four-fight winning streak since her most recent defeat – a close decision loss to Kaufman in a March 2012 rematch – and she may now be one victory away from a shot at UFC gold. Following the close defeat against Kaufman, Davis made history by becoming the first woman to submit Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano in MMA competition at Invicta FC 2. She choked out Shayna “The Queen of Spades” Baszler at Invicta FC 4 and has since gone on to total decision wins over Rosi “The Surgeon” Sexton and Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche inside the Octagon.
Eye (11-1-0) has also rebounded well since suffering her first and only career defeat against Aisling “Ais The Bash” Daly in a June 2011 NAAFS title fight. The popular Ohioan has racked up eight straight wins including key victories over Angela Magana, former Bellator champ Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto Gurgel, Carina “Barbie” Damm and, in her UFC debut, Kaufman via a close three-round decision. Even more impressively, Eye has overcome a fractured foot and a serious back injury in recent years in order to keep her growing winning streak intact.
The bout between Davis and Eye could determine a future UFC title challenger later in 2014, but the championship picture remains crowded. UFC 170 is headlined by a UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship bout between “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey and fellow undefeated Olympic medallist Sara McMann, and “Alpha” Cat Zingano is next in line to challenge the winner. Both Davis and Eye could earn a spot as the number two contender with a victory in February.
UFC 170: “Rousey vs McMann” takes place on February 22, 2014 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Photo Credit: UFC)
Holy! I don’t know who is winning this! I love both!
I am guessing Jessica Eye will outpoint Alexis, who loves to strike…
IMO, Alexis’ style is better suited to defeat Rousey, although Jessica will wreck Rousey’s face, is their fight to keep standing.
Alexis is foremost a BJJ expert on the ground, only recently expanding her game to include standup, which she first demonstrated in her FoTN against Kaufman in 2011. On the ground, Alexis has taken out both Nunes and Baszler. On the feet, she convincingly defeated Carmouche.
I believe she will beat Eye on the ground. Alexis is too big, strong, and experienced. I also think Alexis is the single biggest threat to Rousey. A summer headlining PPV against Rousey for the title would be incredible!
I think Amanda Nunes was controlling Davis on the ground for most of the fight, until she gassed. I think Alexis is a superior fighter, but she got other fights that showcase her ground skills better than the Amanda one, IMO.
As to Jessica Eye and Alexis Davis, this is really hard to call. Alexis is a small bantamweight, IMO (and so is Jessica Eye), but Jessica kept it toe-to-toe with Kaufman in strikes, and, also, seemed stronger than Kaufman in the clinch… Kaufman is one of the strongest bantamweights around. Jessica Eye and Zingano were clearly the two strongest flyweights. I don’t think strength will be a factor here.
Eye also got great takedown defense… I think that, if the fight keeps standing, Jessica Eye will have the edge. If it goes to the ground, Alexis will have the edge… it depends on whom will impose their will.
Either way, they are two of my favourite bantamweights, and I think this fight will eclipse Ronda and McMann’s in excitement.
I hope so, and if they do, they’ll probably get FoTN. In the end it’s #2 vs. #4 in the world — very hard to call. Plus Rousey vs. #3 McMann. Both on the PPV! Honestly, who can ask for more than that!