The decision regarding whether Maycee Barber would compete this past Saturday was reportedly taken out of her hands.
Barber, known as “The Future,” was scheduled to face fellow flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield in the main event of UFC Vegas 107. However, the bout was canceled at the last moment. A broadcast announcement stated Barber was unable to make her walk to the octagon. The exact reasons for her withdrawal remain unclear, although Blanchfield told a reporter she was informed Barber had suffered a seizure just before the scheduled fight time.
Following the cancellation, Blanchfield publicly criticized Barber at the post-fight press conference, claiming Barber is “a complete mess in every aspect of her entire life.” In response, Barber released a statement on Sunday, vowing that she and her team would resolve her issues and ensure she is fit to compete again.
On Tuesday, Barber’s coach, Cody Donovan, posted a statement on Instagram absolving Barber of responsibility for the cancelled main event. According to Donovan, it was the coaching staff who made the final decision to pull Barber from the fight.
Donovan’s comments stated: “To be clear, Maycee did not withdraw from her fight. She refused to give up in spite of her medical condition. As coaches, we decided to call the doctor in. Even though she begged us not to. What we saw was just too dangerous.”
While many of Barber’s peers expressed sympathy, her withdrawal received heightened scrutiny because Saturday’s bout was intended to be her return after an absence of nearly 450 days. Barber had previously pulled out of a planned July 2024 fight against Rose Namajunas due to health concerns. Therefore, withdrawing from the Blanchfield fight has raised further questions about the 27-year-old’s future in the sport.
In Donovan’s view, Barber facing and overcoming such difficulties will ultimately make her journey to the top even more inspiring.
Donovan also wrote: “I am proud of the courage she showed during a medical emergency. Most fighters would have fled. When Barber’s story is told, this will be the major hurdle she conquered on her path to greatness.”
