Despite suffering a seizure backstage at UFC Vegas 107, Maycee Barber was determined to compete.
UFC flyweight contender Maycee Barber`s main event bout against Erin Blanchfield last weekend at UFC Vegas 107 was cancelled after she experienced a medical issue just before walking out. Just minutes before Barber and Blanchfield were scheduled to enter the arena, Barber suffered a seizure backstage, necessitating her transport to a Las Vegas hospital. The UFC Vegas 107 main event was abruptly called off in an unexpected turn of events at the Apex facility.
Following the cancellation, Erin Blanchfield criticized Barber, calling her ‘super unprofessional,’ contributing to the narrative that Barber had withdrawn from the fight. However, Barber`s team insists she did everything she could to make the walk, even after the severe health scare.
Maycee Barber`s Coach Addresses `Pull Out` Claims
In a recent Instagram post, Barber’s head coach Cody Donovan shared his perspective on what happened behind the scenes at UFC Vegas 107.
“For the record, Maycee did not pull out of her fight,” Donovan said of Barber. “She refused to surrender in spite of what was happening to her medically. As a coaching staff, we decided to call the doctor in. Even as she begged us not to. What we saw was just too dangerous. I am proud of the bravery she showed in the face of a medical emergency. Most fighters would have ran for the door. When they tell the story of Maycee Barber, this will be the Goliath that she got to overcome on her road to greatness. God is good.”
Hours after the event, Barber provided a positive health update, vowing to ‘come back stronger’ from the incident. Prior to this cancellation, she had already faced delays in returning to the octagon since her win over former title challenger Katlyn Cerminara at UFC 299 due to previous health concerns.
Blanchfield has since softened her stance, clarifying that her earlier comments about unprofessionalism referred to Barber missing weight by 1.5 pounds on Friday, the first time in Barber`s career.
Maycee Barber Responds to Erin Blanchfield`s Comments Post-Fight
Blanchfield also commented that Barber’s ‘life is a complete mess’ after the UFC Vegas 107 bout cancellation, a remark that drew significant fan reaction. Barber later reassured supporters that her life is stable and viewed the health issue as merely a temporary setback.
Meanwhile, Erin Blanchfield is expected to pursue another high-ranked opponent following UFC Vegas 107 as she aims for a potential title opportunity. The current flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko, has expressed interest in a potential super fight against strawweight champion Zhang Weili.
A potential matchup for Blanchfield could be against top contender Natalia Silva, who recently secured a dominant win over Alexa Grasso at UFC 315. Maycee Barber`s return timeline to the UFC remains undecided.
