Maycee Barber's Coach Says She Begged Team Not To Cancel UFC Fight
Maycee Barber was moments away from making the walk to the Octagon for her main event fight opposite Erin Blanchfield on the UFC Vegas 107 fight card when a medical issue left Barber unable to compete. According to Barber's coach, the highly ranked women's flyweight competitor begged her team to allow her to fight on Saturday night before the fight was called off.
'For the record, Maycee did not pull out of her fight,' Barber's coach Cody Donovan wrote on Instagram. '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 door. When they tell the story of @mayceebarber this will be the Goliath that she got to overcome on her road to greatness. God is good."
Instagram - Cody Donovan
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 09: Maycee Barber prepares to face Katlyn Cerminara in a flyweight fight ... More during the UFC 299 event at Kaseya Center on March 09, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
During the prelim portion of the UFC Vegas 107 card, UFC commentator Megan Olivi reported on the medical issues that had kept Barber out of the Octagon since her win over Cerminara.
"A myriad of very serious health issues have plagued the UFC flyweight," Olivi said. "In fact, it resulted in an 11-day hospitalization. She had over a dozen rounds of IV antibiotics, and she was diagnosed with things like Epstein-Barr [Syndrome], Mono, and toxic levels of mercury in her blood.
"They brought in a Colorado infectious disease specialist to see if they could diagnose and treat whatever was going on with her, and still, to this day, Barber doesn't really have any answers.
"However, they were able to find a combination of medicine to help control all the things that were happening inside here., to help her feel better and to get back to training and competing. But yesterday, it was obvious. The time away, paired with all those health issues, really resulted in difficulty in making weight."
Olivi then related that she had spoken to Blanchfield after Barber weighed in a half-pound heavy for the 135-pound bout. During that conversation, Blanchfield told Olivi she was concerned that Barber would not be able to make the walk to the Octagon for the fight. Ultimately, Blanchfield's fears became a reality.
"Not what I had planned for a Sunday post," Barber posted on Instagram. "Thank you to everyone for the prayers & support I owe an apology to @ufc @mickmaynard2 @danawhite @seanshelby & @blanchfield_mma ** PS my life is not messy this is just a bad hand. We will get to the bottom of it all and be back 🤍"
Maycee Barber Instagram
Barber's post included video of her being taken out of the UFC Apex on a stretcher.
Blanchfield's management team reported that she will be paid her full show and win money for UFC Vegas 107. There has been no reporting on if Barber will receive any of her purse for Saturday's fight card.
UFC women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko was on hand for the card because the fight could have determined her next opponent. Blanchfield is ranked No. 4 in the official UFC women's flyweight rankings, while Barber checks in at No. 5.
The next event on the UFC schedule is UFC 316 on Saturday.
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