If a fighter can get their first title fight in their backyard, that's a dream scenario. It's typically something reserved for champions, like when UFC heavyweight champ and Cleveland native Stipe Miocic defended the belt for the first time in his home town.
But if you can't fight in you're hometown, fighting in your region of the country is the next best option, and for Cleveland native Jessica Eye, that's this flyweight title bout against the champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 238 in Chicago, IL.
"The air feels like it, it has that stench of the Midwest," Eye said of Chicago.
Eye has been training outside of Cleveland for the first time in her career and in some ways it's a Midwest homecoming.
While most states or cities have a lot of pride, the Midwest has a grander sense of regional pride which could mean Eye has a hometown crowd behind her at the United Center.
"I hope so," Eye said of Chicago fans lending their vocal support to a fellow Midwesterner on Saturday night. "I mean maybe, maybe not. We'll have to wait till Saturday to see what happens."
But Cleveland is only a five hour car ride and a short flight away, allowing Team Eye to turn out in droves.
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"They're all here, they're all flowing in. It's like when the fog came in the [other] night, that's when all my people showed up," Eye said. "That's Team Eye. The fog rolled in, the rest of the 'Evil' crew showed up.
"Everybody comes no matter what. We had a huge following in Toronto. My friends came with me to Singapore, my friends came to St. Louis.
"My people come with me, they're with me through and through. This is a true support system."
On Saturday night, Eye will look to win her first UFC title in the newly created women's flyweight division, her natural weight class.