Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah – Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC
“What happened to our world that people are so full of hate and ignorance?” — Jessica Eye
How do you know when a sport like mixed martial arts (MMA) has gone mainstream? When it has just as many assholes per capita as some of the powerhouse leagues like NFL and MLB. Anyone who thinks MMA fans are toxic has never worn a New York Yankees jersey to a Boston Red Sox playoff game.
Yowzers!
With that in mind, it should come as no surprise to learn that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) flyweight contender Jessica Eye won’t be crying herself to sleep because fans, media, and even other fighters are slamming her on social media.
“I am never ashamed of myself no matter what the outcome is in a fight in the Octagon,” Eye wrote on Instagram. “I am beyond thankful for every moment that I have whether it’s good or bad. I am grateful for the support and even more for the critical assholes that seem to just have nothing better to do but to be a menace. Thank you UFC.”
Eye was criticized for getting a headlining slot against Cynthia Calvillo in the UFC on ESPN 10 main event last weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada, as if winning three straight and being ranked No. 1 in the division was somehow not enough to warrant the top spot.
Calvillo took her fair share of the heat, as well.
Then Eye went and hurt her own cause by missing weight for the second straight time. In addition, the “Evil” flyweight dropped a clearcut decision in the “Sin City” headliner and will likely lose her spot in the rankings, but it doesn’t sound like she’s going to let it affect her view of the bigger picture.
“We get two weekends in a row where women are main eventing,” Eye said. “And it’s such an evolution in the world.”