Maycee Barber says UFC on ESPN 68 withdrawal vs. Erin Blanchfield 'just a bad hand'
Less than 24 hours after a shocking and dramatic withdrawal from the UFC on ESPN 68 main event, Maycee Barber posted a bit of an explanation on social media.
Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was set to headline the card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas against Erin Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC). But just moments before she was set to walk out – video packages for the headliner already had been broadcast – she was not medically cleared to fight.
Advertisement
The women's flyweight bout was canceled literally in the final minute or two before the fighters were set to walk to the cage from the back – leaving even the broadcast team unsure what was happening.
Sunday, Barber had little to say on Instagram beyond an apology, but suggested what caused the incident was not expected. Barber included video taken backstage at the UFC Apex showing her being wheeled on a stretcher to an ambulance.
"Not what I had planned for a Sunday post," Barber posted. "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 🤍"
Fight week featured veiled comments by Blanchfield wondering if Barber would show up to the fight. Friday, Barber missed weight by a half-pound and declined an opportunity to cut the additional weight to avoid paying a penalty to Blanchfield.
Advertisement
At the ceremonial faceoffs just after the weigh-ins, the two had to be separated by matchmaker Sean Shelby, and their beef continued on social media later on in the day. But when fight time rolled around, Barber was unable to make the walk.
Blanchfield said after the fight she is not interested in rebooking a fight with Barber. Barber was set to fight for the first time in more than a year. Now that layoff will be extended indefinitely, it appears.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Maycee Barber: UFC Vegas 107 withdrawal vs. Blanchfield 'a bad hand'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geek Tyrant
11 minutes ago
- Geek Tyrant
Mike Flanagan Is Working Closely with Stephen King on THE DARK TOWER TV Adaptation: "I'm Not Gonna Let Him Down" — GeekTyrant
Mike Flanagan is still hard at work developing his adaptation of Stephen King's magnum opus The Dark Tower series, and according to the filmmaker, it's just taking time because, well… it's that big. In a recent interview with ComicBook, Flanagan offered a candid update when asked about the long-gestating project: 'It's not that I've put it down. It's just that the thing is so big, it's like building an oil tanker. We've been moving it forward this whole time. 'It's just, that's how big it is. It's constantly in the works, and you better believe as often as you guys may want to ask about it, Stephen King is asking me about it more, and I'm not gonna let him down.' Flanagan is 100% committed to the project and he's collaborating directly with the author himself. King even confirmed earlier this year that he's actively writing material for the series: 'All I can say is, it's happening. I am writing stuff now, and I think that's all I want to say, because the next thing you know, I'll stir up a bunch of stuff I don't necessarily want to stir up yet. I'm in process right now, and to say too much feels like a jinx.' While Flanagan's Dark Tower hasn't landed at a streamer or officially gone into production yet, it is fully outlined. The plan is to make it a five-season series that gives the epic eight-book saga the breathing room it needs. If there's anyone who will be able to do it right, it's Flanagan. His track record with King's work speaks for itself: Gerald's Game , Doctor Sleep , and the upcoming The Life of Chuck , which hits theaters June 6. All these projects have all shown he gets the tone, the heart, and the horror that comes with adapting King's work. He's also developing a new take on Carrie . When Flanagan first announced the project, he said that the pilot script is 'one of my favorite things I've ever gotten to work on.' He shared at the time: 'I wrote a pilot, we view it as a as a series that's going at least five seasons. And having lived with this project as long as I have, I have an enormous amount of it worked out in my brain. 'But I have a pilot script I'm thrilled with and a very detailed outline for the first season and a broader outline for the subsequent seasons. 'I think eventually, if we're able to get it going, there are some other writers I want to fold into that process whom I've worked with before; I think they would be really fabulous for a very small, intimate writers room where we can continue to break it. 'I'll tell you, more than half of my life, I've closed my eyes and been able to watch a lot of this play out, I've dreamed about this. 'That first shot which comes right off at the first incredible sentence of the first book, The Gunslinger, I've had that image just rattling around in my head since I was an undergrad. It's going to have to get out of there eventually, I really need to get it out of my head. 'The pilot script is one of my favorite things I've ever gotten to work on. It's been surreal working on that. So we've been floored and grateful that Stephen King trusts us with such an undertaking, something so precious to him, and we hope to find the right partners to realize it.' The director has been adamant that his adaptation will stick as close to the source material as possible. Back in 2022, Flanagan said: 'It would look like the books. The way not to do The Dark Tower is to try to turn it into something else, to try to make it Star Wars or make it Lord of the Rings . 'It is what it is, what it is is perfect. It's just as exciting as all of those things and just as immersive. It's a story about a tiny group of people, all the odds in the whole world are against them, and they come together. As long as it's that, it'll be fine and there won't be a dry eye in the house.' I cant wait to see what he does with this story!
Gizmodo
17 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
Target and Walmart Cancel Switch 2 Orders but Hope People Mob Stores on June 5
The Switch 2 is due in two days. If you were one of the few lucky enough to preorder Nintendo's new handheld console over a month ago, and you haven't been checking in on your order, you better do so now. Multiple Nintendo fans reported receiving cancellation notices from big box stores Target and Walmart. The companies' communications with customers suggest the quashed preorders could be down to lack of available units or system errors. Preorders were already a mess back in April, but those who suffered through broken websites and busted wait queues found their orders cancelled barely a week before launch. Some accounts that claimed they preordered their Switch 2 online suggest both Target and Walmart have nixed their preorder with little explanation. One Redditor on the r/Switch subreddit included screenshots showing the retailer cancelled their order on May 27. Other users on the same subreddit claimed Target may not be able to ship units until June 10, five days after launch. More expectant Switch 2 customers on the r/Walmart and r/Switch subreddits said the retailer cancelled their preorders as well. One customer on X posted screenshots of their conversations with Walmart support. Walmart's initial email said it canceled the preorder due to 'an issue with your card.' When the user suggested they didn't receive any notice their transaction was declined, Walmart support wrote back, 'The order has been canceled due to a large number of orders.' absolutely insane of @Walmart to cancel my Switch 2 preorder that I preordered the night it went live because of a large number of orders. Meanwhile multiple times sold more on their site, but I guess had to cancel mine that I had planned to receive lol — Rooster (@MechaPaddington) May 31, 2025 Gizmodo reached out to both Target and Walmart for comment about the cancelled preorders, but we did not immediately hear back. Switch 2s have been hard to come by, even though some retailers have reportedly offered more units for sale intermittently over the past few weeks. So far, Best Buy and GameStop have received far fewer complaints online. GameStop went as far as to snipe at other retailers, replying with a curt 'not us' statement in response to reports of last-minute cancellations. The games retailer received at least one clapback from a user who claimed the company nixed their preorder. Some users spotted a 'Customer Reconciliation' Switch 2 unit available on Walmart's website, which may be how the company plans to rectify cancelled orders. One user on the same thread reported getting an email saying the cancelled preorder was down to a 'system error.' Even with this rash of cancellations, Walmart is still suggesting customers will be able to get one either in-store June 5. The company told Gizmodo on Monday that those who placed preorders should receive them by 9 a.m. local time on June 5. Walmart added it would open doors to its west coast U.S. supercenters on June 4 at 9 p.m., 10 p.m. MDT and have consoles available 'while supplies last.' Some locations may have more stock than others. Target similarly shared its plans for release. The company wants hungry Switch 2 buyers to start lining up 'before stores open on June 5' where the first lucky people in line who suffer in the cold morning air will receive a physical or digital ticket, depending on how many units are available. There's a limit of one system per customer. Otherwise, if you want to order the handheld online, you'll need to wait until June 6. Best Buy is planning for its own hectic midnight release. The electronics retailer is trying to incentivize customers to come down by offering them a 'limited-edition commemorative coin' with a bland Switch 2 logo on one side and Best Buy's icon on the other. GameStop locations will be opening their doors at 3 p.m. local time on June 4 for its new launch event, though you'll have to wait until midnight to get your unit. Those looking for a different strat to secure their console on launch day may want to look outside the (big) box (store). Office supply chain Staples told us it will have units in-store 'as early as June 5.' There's a limit of one console per customer, and only specific locations will have consoles available, though the retailer suggested that some locations may not have units on launch day. All this hubbub is enough to suggest you may be better off waiting for more stock. Nintendo has suggested it's going into overdrive to make more units available post-launch.
USA Today
28 minutes ago
- USA Today
Overreaction Time: Expect the expected at UFC 316? Dana White done building stars? More!
Overreaction Time: Expect the expected at UFC 316? Dana White done building stars? More! The time for overreacting is here! Check out the latest episode of "Overreaction Time" at noon ET/9 a.m. PT as host Simon Samano and MMA Junkie reporter Farah Hannoun debate these "overreactions" on the following topics in mixed martial arts: 0:53 - UFC 316: Another loss to Merab Dvalishvili would spell disaster for Sean O'Malley. 07:00 - UFC 316: Kayla Harrison is about to have her way with Julianna Pena. 11:50 - UFC 316: The fighter facing the most pressure to win is Patchy Mix. 16:20 - Jon Jones will not fight Tom Aspinall because he's too afraid of losing. 22:55 - The UFC will never have another true superstar with Dana White at the helm. Watch the full episode in the video above.
