LAS VEGAS — Score a late takedown in a round, and two judges are likely to see a close fight your way. That MMA lesson was taught again Saturday night at UFC 170.
Jessica Eye appeared to get the best of Alexis Davis in each of the first two rounds at the Mandalay Bay Events center before Davis came on in the third. But Davis scored a takedown late in the first round, which was apparently the difference maker as Davis won via split decision, taking two of three 29-28 scores.
Eye simply picked Davis apart standing in the fight’s opening round, landing from distance and overpowering Davis in the clinch. Davis scored a takedown in the final minute, but couldn’t do much with it.
The second round was all Eye, as she again continued to strike at will. The fight hit the ground and Davis could do little more than cover up and ride out the bulk of the round.
Davis showed fire in round three as Eye tired, convincingly winning the final round. Davis landed clean punches, but could never put together enough in a row to come close to finishing the fight.
Eye (10-2, 1 ND) was coming off a UFC 166 win over Sarah Kaufmann was overturned to a no-decision due to the presence of cannaboids in her post-fight test. Davis (16-5) won her fifth consecutive fight.