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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Erin Blanchfield rips Maycee Barber after craziest career fight week: 'I think she's a complete mess'
Erin Blanchfield rips Maycee Barber after craziest career fight week: 'I think she's a complete mess' Show Caption Hide Caption Erin Blanchfield on Maycee Barber: 'She needs to fix her life' UFC on ESPN 68 winner Erin Blanchfield talks to reporters post-fight after Maycee Barber was ruled out of their in main event due to a medical issue. LAS VEGAS – Erin Blanchfield remembers getting the six-minute warning in the locker room. As time passed, even in the adrenaline-warped mental state that comes moments before a fight, Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) thought something was up. "It was already six minutes," Blanchfield told MMA Junkie and other reporters backstage after UFC on ESPN 68. "I thought I was going to be told, 'OK, it's time to go.' Then, Hunter (Campbell) comes in and tells me what happened. Yeah, it's pretty crazy." According to Blanchfield, Campbell told her Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) suffered a seizure moments before the walkout. Meanwhile, a puzzled broadcast team tried to inform viewers why the pre-fight video package played but no fighter walked out. They needed to go to commercial break before relaying more info. While it's unclear the exact circumstances of Barber's medical issue, Blanchfield struggled to wrap her head around the situation. "I feel like I'm still in pretty much disbelief right now. 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. So she missed weight, then she gets to Saturday. She gets to the locker room. I'm fully ready to go. She's supposed to be ready to go. Supposedly now she has all these health issues right when we're supposed to fight. I think it's pretty crazy. I think it's pretty unprofessional. I wouldn't want to fight her again." The bad blood between Blanchfield and Barber subtly built since they were booked to fight in 2021. The bout was canceled due to Barber's withdrawal. Then when Barber missed weight Friday, things were taken to another level. "We're supposed to be top-five in the world, be professional, be the best in the world," Blanchfield said. "So yeah, that was concerning." Blanchfield didn't hold back when asked what advice she'd give Barber. She said she's never experienced anything remotely close to it during her competitive career, amateur and professional. "I don't know, she needs to look at another division," Blanchfield said. "She needs to fix her life. She just needs to fix herself. I think she's a complete mess in every aspect of her entire life." As for what's next, Blanchfield isn't sure. Had she impressively defeated Barber on Saturday, the performance could've aligned her for a title shot vs. Valentina Shevchenko. But with Natalia Silva also waiting in the wings, the road map for the division remains murky. "This fight was possibly a (title eliminator) fight," Blanchfield said. "Valentina knows that. She wants to come watch her future competition. I was ready to really put on a show tonight. It definitely leaves me in a little bit of a weird place. I know there are other girls in the top five that I could fight. I guess we'll just have to go back and reassess."
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 68 video: Dustin Jacoby throws caution to wind, wildly knocks out Bruno Lopes
UFC on ESPN 68 video: Dustin Jacoby throws caution to wind, wildly knocks out Bruno Lopes Dustin Jacoby prioritized violence over technique at the UFC Apex on Saturday. On the UFC on ESPN 68 main card, Jacoby (21-9-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC) knocked out Bruno Lopes (14-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) with a swarming attack for a stoppage at : of Round 1. Jacoby, 37, has now won back-to-back fights inside the distance. The former Glory Kickboxing title challenger has 14 knockouts in 21 victories. Lopes, 32, has a three-fight winning steak snapped. Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 68 results:
USA Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Video: UFC on ESPN 68 backstage post-fight interviews with winners
Video: UFC on ESPN 68 backstage post-fight interviews with winners Show Caption Hide Caption Alice Ardelean went all-in to get first UFC win at UFC Vegas 107 UFC on ESPN 68 winner Alice Ardelean talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight after her victory over Rayanne dos Santos in Las Vegas. LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 68 took place Saturday with 10 bouts on the lineup. We've got you covered with backstage winner interviews from UFC Apex. You can hear from all the UFC on ESPN 68 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below. Alice Ardelean Bolaji Oki Kurt Holobaugh Jafel Filho vs. Allan Nascimento Zachary Reese vs. Dusko Todorovic Ketlen Vieira vs. Macy Chiasson Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes Billy Ray Goff vs. Ramiz Brahimaj Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 68 predictions: We've got upsets picked in the main, co-main in Vegas
UFC on ESPN 68 predictions: We've got upsets picked in the main, co-main in Vegas Our picks for Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber, Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein and more in 'Sin City' Show Caption Hide Caption Blanchfield vs. Barber gets intense in UFC on ESPN 68 faceoff Watch as all the fighters for UFC Vegas 107 come face-to-face ahead of their bouts on Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas The UFC is back in its Las Vegas home stomping grounds Saturday with women's flyweights at the top of the lineup. UFC on ESPN 68 (ESPN, ESPN+) takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below. Dusko Todorovic vs. Zachary Reese Records: Todorovic (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC), Reese (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) Todorovic (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC), Reese (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) Past five: Todorovic 2-3, Reese 3-2 Todorovic 2-3, Reese 3-2 Division: Middleweight Middleweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.31.25): Todorovic +170, Reese -205 Todorovic +170, Reese -205 Junkie pick results: Reese 7, Todorovic 4 Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira Records: Chiasson (11-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Vieira (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) Chiasson (11-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Vieira (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) Past five: Chiasson 3-2, Vieira 3-2 Chiasson 3-2, Vieira 3-2 Division: Women's bantamweight Women's bantamweight Rankings: Vieira No. 4, Chiasson No. 7 Vieira No. 4, Chiasson No. 7 Odds (as of 05.31.25): Chiasson -135, Vieira +115 Chiasson -135, Vieira +115 Junkie pick results: Chiasson 10, Vieira 1 Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes Records: Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC), Lopes (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC), Lopes (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) Past five: Jacoby 2-3, Lopes 4-1 Jacoby 2-3, Lopes 4-1 Division: Light heavyweight Light heavyweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.31.25): Jacoby -190, Lopes +160 Jacoby -190, Lopes +160 Junkie pick results: Jacoby 8, Lopes 3 Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff Records: Brahimaj (11-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Goff (11-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) Brahimaj (11-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Goff (11-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) Past five: Brahimaj 3-2, Goff 4-1 Brahimaj 3-2, Goff 4-1 Division: Welterweight Welterweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 05.31.25): Brahimaj +310, Goff -395 Brahimaj +310, Goff -395 Junkie pick results: Brahimaj 8, Goff 3 Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein Records: Gamrot (24-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC), Klein (23-4-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) Gamrot (24-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC), Klein (23-4-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) Past five: Gamrot 3-2, Klein 4-0-1 Gamrot 3-2, Klein 4-0-1 Division: Lightweight Lightweight Rankings: Gamrot No. 10 Gamrot No. 10 Odds (as of 05.31.25): Gamrot -155, Klein +130 Gamrot -155, Klein +130 Junkie pick results: Gamrot 11, Klein 0 Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber Records: Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC), Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC), Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) Past five: Blanchfield 4-1, Barber 5-0 Blanchfield 4-1, Barber 5-0 Division: Women's flyweight Women's flyweight Rankings: Blanchfield No. 3, No. 9 pound-for-pound; Barber No. 9 Blanchfield No. 3, No. 9 pound-for-pound; Barber No. 9 Odds (as of 05.31.25): Blanchfield -220, Barber +180 Blanchfield -220, Barber +180 Junkie pick results: Blanchfield 8, Barber 3 Individual staff member picks, main card Readers 62-43: Blanchfield (67%), Gamrot (75%), Goff (81%), Jacoby (66%), Chiasson (53%), Reese (85%) Nolan King 68-38: Barber, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Todorovic Barber, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Todorovic Farah Hannoun 68-38: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Mike Bohn 67-39: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Matt Erickson 66-40: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Goff, Lopes, Chiasson, Reese Blanchfield, Gamrot, Goff, Lopes, Chiasson, Reese Abbey Subhan 66-40: Barber, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Todorovic Barber, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Todorovic Kenny Hathaway 64-42: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Simon Samano 63-43: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Lopes, Chiasson, Todorovic Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Lopes, Chiasson, Todorovic Brian Garcia 61-45: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Todorovic Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Jacoby, Chiasson, Todorovic Danny Segura 60-46: Barber, Gamrot, Goff, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Barber, Gamrot, Goff, Jacoby, Chiasson, Reese Matthew Wells 57-49: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Lopes, Chiasson, Reese Blanchfield, Gamrot, Brahimaj, Lopes, Chiasson, Reese George Garcia 57-49: Blanchfield, Gamrot, Goff, Jacoby, Vieira, Reese Preliminary card picks Although they don't count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
'Injury on the Trevin Giles side' scraps UFC on ESPN 68 short-notice save vs. Gustafsson
'Injury on the Trevin Giles side' scraps UFC on ESPN 68 short-notice save vs. Gustafsson Giles saved Gustafsson's fight on short notice, but suffered an injury leading into Friday's official weigh-ins Andreas Gustafsson had about a week to enjoy the fact his fight had been saved by Trevin Giles. But that's out the window. Gustafsson (11-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Giles (16-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) had been set to meet Saturday in an 180-pound fight at UFC on ESPN 68 May 31 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The fight was set at that weight instead of 170 because Giles stepped in on short notice for Jeremiah Wells, who pulled out. But Friday at the official weigh-ins for UFC on ESPN 68, it was announced the fight is off. Weigh-ins emcee Brendan Fitzgerald gave the official reason for the fight's cancellation as "an injury on the Trevin Giles side." Gustafsson, 34, was set to make his UFC debut after an impressive showing on DWCS in 2024. He sliced and diced Pat Pytlik en route to a second-round TKO and extended his winning streak to three. Giles, 32, may have had his back against the wall in the fight no matter what, but now he'll have the specter of this cancellation hanging over him. He has three straight losses, but in his seven total UFC setbacks, three came against current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and top contenders Carlos Prates and Michael Morales. With the cancellation, the UFC on ESPN 68 lineup, now with 10 fights, includes: MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET) Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira – 145-pound adjusted contract weight Dusko Todorovic vs. Zachary Reese PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
