Emotional Jessica Eye overcame severe health issues before UFC 276 retirement, sets sights on pro wrestling next

LAS VEGAS – Jessica Eye has closed the mixed martial arts chapter of her career, but already has her sights set on a different kind of competition.

Saturday, following her UFC 276 unanimous decision loss to Maycee Barber at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Eye (15-11 MMA, 5-10 UFC) left her gloves in the center of the cage and announced her retirement from MMA.

“I’ve got to do it the way I wanted to,” Eye told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “Yeah, I’m sad. Yeah, it’s going to be hard. It’s going to have its days. But I’m excited for what I can do next. I’m excited for all the other opportunities. I know that Jessica ‘Evil’ Eye doesn’t end in the UFC octagon. Jessica ‘Evil’ Eye finds her way in other directions. I’m ready to embrace that.”

The decision was an emotional one and not something Eye said she pre-planned prior to the bout. In recent years, Eye dealt with a plethora of health issues in between four consecutive losses. The time to walk away seemed right.

“It’s been a really rough year for me between last year, splitting my forehead open. I thought I won that fight,” Eye said. “Thankfully, that whole year I went through a lot. I had sepsis in October and almost died back in October. Then I had some injuries throughout camp. I was supposed to fight Manon (Fiorot) from France on a card here. I ended up breaking my nose. I found out that I had a parasite I’ve been living with for the past five-and-a-half years that was taking my gallbladder and taking so many things. My health has just been up and down.

“… I’m a true fighter through and through. I’ve never finished fights the way others did, but I was a hillbilly girl from Cleveland, Ohio, who was never going to make it this far. Here I am, retiring in the UFC. I’m proud of myself. People who come from where I come from, people don’t make it this far. … Self-belief is better than social disapproval. You go get it. You fight. You fight, no matter what it is.”

As for what’s next, Eye has an idea. During the pandemic, she dabbled in the world of professional wrestling. If she had a choice, she’d be walking down a WWE or AEW wrestling entrance ramp soon.

“I’ve always wanted to dabble in pro wrestling,” Eye said. “I want to be the female Undertaker. I want to ride a motorcycle down to the octagon and DDT somebody. I’d love to do that. … AEW, WWE, let’s go. Jessica ‘Evil’ Eye is ready. Jessica ‘Evil’ Eye does not end here. She’s just starting a new journey.”