Maycee Barber`s scheduled fight this past Saturday at UFC Vegas 107 was ultimately canceled not by the fighter herself, but reportedly by her coaching staff.
Barber, known as “The Future,” was slated to face fellow flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield in the main event. However, the bout was abruptly called off just moments before the walkouts. While specific details regarding Barber`s condition remain unclear, Blanchfield told reporters she was informed Barber had suffered a seizure shortly before the fight was set to begin.
Following the cancellation, Blanchfield publicly criticized Barber at the post-fight press conference, suggesting Barber was “a complete mess in every aspect of her entire life.” Barber later responded with a statement promising that she and her team would work through any issues to ensure her readiness to compete again.
On Tuesday, Barber`s coach, Cody Donovan, took to Instagram to clarify the circumstances surrounding the cancellation, stating unequivocally that the decision to withdraw Barber from the fight was made by the coaching team.
“For the record, Maycee did not pull out of her fight,” Donovan wrote. “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.”
While many peers offered support, Barber`s withdrawal garnered particular scrutiny partly because this event was intended to be her return after a significant layoff of nearly 450 days. She had previously pulled out of a planned fight against Rose Namajunas in July 2024 due to health issues, adding to uncertainty about the 27-year-old`s immediate fighting future.
Despite the setback, Donovan believes that navigating this challenge will ultimately serve to make Barber`s journey toward the sport`s pinnacle even more inspirational.
“I am proud of the bravery she showed in the face of a medical emergency,” Donovan stated. “Most fighters would have ran for the door. When they tell the story of [Barber] this will be the Goliath that she got to overcome on her road to greatness. God is good.”
Marcus Blakely