Rising star Jessica “Evil” Eye won for the fourth straight time tonight in front of friends and family at Bellator Fighting Championships 66 in Cleveland, Ohio. Eye took a well-earned Unanimous Decision victory over short-notice opponent Anita “El Tigre” Rodriguez in a 131-pound catchweight bout.

In the Bellator 66 televised main event, former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez avenged one of three career defeats with a first-round destruction of DREAM champ Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki. The big win got Alvarez back on track after his Bellator title loss to Michael Chandler in November.

Eye (7-1-0) landed jabs and leg kicks early on in the final fight of the evening, then countered a throw attempt from Rodriguez (5-3-0) by taking her back. Rodriguez trapped her in a headlock, but Eye escaped and looked to set up a rear-naked choke. Eye transitioned to the top in half-guard and then to side control. She attempted a North-South Choke and landed elbows. Referee Jerry Poe stood the fighters up and both women landed hard right hands. Rodriguez retreated, but recovered quickly. Two more punches backed Rodriguez up again, but she scored a takedown with just over one minute remaining and fought out of a guillotine choke. Rodriguez postured up and landed short left hands as time ticked down. 10-9 Eye.

Round two began with more jabs and leg kicks from Eye. Right hooks scored for both fighters and Eye backed up momentarily, but she regained her footing and kept Rodriguez at bay with stiff jabs while avoiding Rodriguez’s counterpunches. Rodriguez secured a standing headlock against the cage, but Eye fought free of the clinch and landed a hard right hand. She followed with a one-two and a leg kick. More leg kicks scored for Eye and she ducked under most of Rodriguez’s counters. Eye attempted a pair of head kicks and a backfist in the final seconds as Rodriguez fired off a right hook. 10-9 Eye.

Eye landed hard leg kicks in the final round and the fighters exchanged right hooks in close. More right hands landed for both women and Eye mixed up her strikes with kicks and punches. Rodriguez landed a nice leg kick of her own, but Eye quickly answered with more kicks and a right hook, then followed with a glancing head kick and a combination seconds later. Rodriguez clinched briefly and landed an uppercut, but Eye backed her up with more jabs that set off an exchange of right hooks and body kicks. Hard rights connected for both women just before the final bell. 10-9 Eye.

All three judges were united in scoring the bout 30-27 for Eye, who has now won four straight fights since her lone career setback in June. The Ohio native is one of the most popular fighters in her home state and has eyes on making a run at the Bellator 125-pound women’s tournament championship in the coming year.

Winner: Jessica Eye by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. She improves to 7-1-0.

Alvarez (23-3-0) had little trouble in avenging his 2008 submission loss to Aoki (30-6-0, 1 NC) in the pair’s rematch tonight. Aoki’s attempts to get the fight to the mat were unsuccessful and Alvarez refused to follow his opponent to the ground after dropping him with a right hook. Aoki got back to his feet and was dropped a second time soon after. Alvarez unleashed a barrage of punches as Aoki’s corner threw in the towel. Referee Jerry Krzys did not see the towel – which can be ignored under the Unified Rules, regardless – but eventually stopped the fight when Aoki turtled up and ate over a dozen unanswered punches.

The impressive victory puts Alvarez back on the map as one of the sport’s premier lightweight fighters, but his future remains unclear. Alvarez is reportedly under contract to Bellator for one more fight, but will then become a free agent and may move on to Strikeforce or the UFC.

Winner: Eddie Alvarez by TKO (Punches) at 2:14 of round one. He improves to 23-3-0.

Remaining Bellator 66 Results:

– Andreas “Sweet Swede” Spang defeated Brian “The Predator” Rogers by KO (Punch) at 3:34 of round two. He improves to 8-1-0 and advances to the finals of the Bellator Season Six Middleweight Tournament.

– Maiquel “Big Rig” Falcao defeated Vyacheslav Vasilevsky by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 27-30) after three rounds. He improves to 30-4-0, 1 NC and advances to the finals of the Bellator Season Six Middleweight Tournament.

– Rick “Genghis” Hawn defeated Lloyd “Cupcake” Woodard by KO (Punch) at 0:10 of round two. He improves to 13-1-0 and advances to the finals of the Bellator Season Six Lightweight Tournament.

– Brent Weedman defeated Thiago Michel by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 20-7-1 and advances to the finals of the Bellator Season Six Lightweight Tournament.

– “Big” John Hawk defeated Marcus Vanttinen by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 7-4-0.

– Attila “Pumukli” Vegh defeated Dan “Dragon” Spohn by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 25-4-2.

– Frank “The Tank” Caraballo defeated Donny “Eagle Eye” Walker by KO (Flying Knee) at 2:25 of round four. He improves to 9-4-0 and becomes the undisputed NAAFS Featherweight Champion.

– Julian “Nitrane” Lane defeated “Smokin'” Joe Heiland by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 2:49 of round one. He improves to 4-0-0.