Women’s bantamweights Sara McMann and Jessica Eye are both in must-win mode, and they will fight each other at UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Garbrandt in Las Vegas on May 29th.
Neither Sara McMann nor Jessica Eye was able to notch a UFC victory in 2015, setting them back significantly as title contenders, and they’re now set to fight each other as they seek to break their respective losing skids. UFC Tonight confirmed the new fight on Wednesday, although it’s unknown whether or not the fight will be on the main or preliminary card.
McMann (8-3) is in the midst of a 1-3 stretch, which includes a title fight TKO loss to Ronda Rousey, a majority decision loss to Miesha Tate, and a 1st round submission defeat vs. Amanda Nunes. The lone win for the 2004 Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling was a split decision nod vs. Lauren Murphy in August 2014.
Eye (11-4, 1 NC) has also lost 3 out of her last 4, having dropped consecutive unanimous decisions to Julianna Pena and Miesha Tate, plus a split decision to Alexis Davis. The Ohio native did score a TKO win over Leslie Smith after busting her cauliflower ear open. Eye is 7th in the latest UFC women’s bantamweight rankings, one spot below her next opponent.
UFC Fight Night 88 is headlined by a bantamweight clash between highly entertaining, fight-finishing prospects Thomas Almeida and Cody Garbrandt. The night’s main card will air live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT.