UFC flyweight competitor Erin Blanchfield expressed her frustration and disappointment over Maycee Barber’s last-minute withdrawal from their scheduled main event fight at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. The bout, which was originally set to take place over the weekend, was canceled minutes before the bell was set to ring. Barber, who had not competed since March 2024 due to a reported illness that required a near-two-week hospital stay, had already missed weight on Friday by a half pound and was expected to forfeit 20% of her purse to Blanchfield, according to reports from ESPN.
Things took an unexpected turn as the fight was canceled just before the event began. Blanchfield stated that UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell had informed her that Barber had suffered a seizure minutes before she was set to enter the Octagon. This revelation has raised questions about the transparency of medical disclosures in combat sports and the professionalism expected of athletes. ESPN broadcasters had earlier reported that Barber had suffered a medical issue, adding to the controversy.
Blanchfield, who is 13-2 in her MMA career, defeated Rose Namajunas in November via unanimous decision, and she has now openly called out Barber’s decision to withdraw from the fight. She expressed her disbelief at the timing of the medical issue, suggesting that Barber’s actions were unprofessional. ‘I feel like I’m still in pretty much disbelief right now,’ she said during a post-UFC Fight Night press conference, as reported by MMA Junkie. ‘I feel like I was in disbelief yesterday when she missed weight because we knew about this fight since January. You could’ve been 50 pounds overweight and still missed weight.’
Blanchfield’s frustration extended to her comments about Barber’s overall situation, advising her to ‘look at another division’ and ‘fix her life’ as she described her as a ‘complete mess in every aspect of her entire life.’ These strong statements have sparked discussions about the role of personal conduct and health in professional sports. Barber, however, has not commented on her alleged medical issues on social media, choosing instead to share videos hyping up her return to the Octagon. The UFC has not yet provided a formal statement on the matter, but Fox News Digital has reached out for clarification.
Tensions in the MMA world continue to rise as the incident involving Blanchfield and Barber has drawn attention to the challenges athletes face in maintaining both physical and mental well-being, while navigating the pressures of competition. The controversy also highlights the importance of transparency in health disclosures and the potential consequences of last-minute cancellations in high-stakes events like the UFC. As the story unfolds, it remains to be seen how the UFC will address the situation and whether the incident will impact future matchups in the women’s flyweight division.