UFC Vegas 107 ended in one of the most bizarre moments in recent mixed martial arts history. The highly anticipated main event between top flyweight contenders Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber was abruptly cancelled just minutes before they were scheduled to walk to the octagon.
This fight was a significant one, with title implications. Both Top 5 flyweights had the opportunity to headline the event with champion Valentina Shevchenko watching cageside, potentially earning a title shot.
However, chaos erupted at the UFC Apex facility right before the fighters were set to make their entrances. Following a video promo package, silence fell over the arena, and no walkout music played.
The UFC broadcast team, including Brendan Fitzgerald, Laura Sanko, and Daniel Cormier, announced that the main event was cancelled due to an undisclosed medical issue affecting Maycee Barber.
Erin Blanchfield Labels Maycee Barber`s Pullout `Super Unprofessional` and Dismisses Rescheduling
It was a peculiar conclusion to UFC Vegas 107, especially with the division`s champion present to witness a potential title eliminator.
Erin Blanchfield recounted the moments leading up to the cancellation. As she and her team prepared to leave the locker room, UFC CBO Hunter Campbell stopped them to deliver the unexpected news. Shortly after, Blanchfield shared her initial thoughts on the abrupt end to the event during an interview with ESPN.
“Hunter came in, said [Maycee] was having a severe medical issue and wasn’t going to be able to fight,” Blanchfield told Megan Olivi. “I knew that once I saw him, I knew it wasn’t something good and real serious. I’m just in disbelief.”
When asked about the possibility of rescheduling the bout against Barber, Blanchfield was quick to shut down the idea.
“No, my coaches right away were like ‘Don’t entertain that, she’s not on your level. Super unprofessional’,” Blanchfield stated.
Barber`s withdrawal occurred mere hours after she missed weight for the first time in her UFC career on Friday, coming in 1.5 pounds over the limit. Despite the weight miss, the UFC had initially decided to proceed with the main event, which included a tense faceoff between Blanchfield and Barber after the weigh-in.
Maycee Barber`s Late Withdrawal Culminates a Bizarre UFC Fight Week
The last-minute pullout by Barber capped off what was already one of the strangest fight weeks in recent UFC memory.
The week leading up to UFC Vegas 107 saw multiple opponent changes. Welterweight Trevin Giles, for instance, stepped up for a short-notice fight against Andreas Gustafsson but was later forced out due to a head injury sustained while cutting weight.
Several fighters, including Barber, also missed weight ahead of the event. However, once the fights began, the card did deliver some entertaining moments and highlight-reel knockouts.
On the main card, UFC light heavyweight Dustin Jacoby made a strong statement with a brutal first-round knockout victory over Bruno Lopes. In the co-main event, UFC lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot defeated Ludovit Klein and used his post-fight interview to call out Benoit Saint-Denis and Paddy Pimblett.
