Maycee Barber out to secure title shot with win over Erin Blanchfield
UFC on ESPN 68 headliner Maycee Barber spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters at media day for her women’s flyweight bout vs. Erin Blanchfield.
LAS VEGAS – Maycee Barber is looking for a statement performance against Erin Blanchfield in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 68 main event.
After health issues sidelined her since March 2024, Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) returns for her first headlining opportunity at the UFC Apex (ESPN, ESPN+). She meets fellow top women’s flyweight contender Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in a five-round fight with significant stakes attached to the title picture.
Barber said she “absolutely” thinks she can dethrone current champion Valentina Shevchenko, and plans to deliver an effort that convinces everyone else of the same.
“I believe that I should be next in line for the belt with a dominant performance, a dominant finish and putting my name out there and doing what I need to do,” Barber told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I think this is a perfect opportunity for me to showcase my skills and get a finish and get a dominant win and continue my win streak and put it at seven, and solidify my shot at the belt.”
Barber, 27, made her octagon debut in November 2018 as a 19-year-old. She has grown up on the big stage, and although she didn’t accomplish her goal of becoming the youngest champion in UFC history, she has found plenty of success.
Her current winning streak, dating back to July 2021, includes former title challengers Katlyn Cerminara and Jessica Eye, and if Barber can add Blanchfield’s name, her case would be stronger.
It remains to be seen if Shevchenko will next defend against Natalia Silva or perhaps event strawweight champ Zhang Weili in a super fight. Nothing has been announced, however, and Barber plans to change the narrative.
She knows she can’t do that by simply skimming by Blanchfield this weekend. It needs to something more, and Barber made no secret about her intentions.
“My goal in every performance is for people to be like, ‘Damn, she really goes out there and she goes for a finish and she goes out there to hurt these girls,'” Barber said. “I think that’s what makes me dangerous. I don’t want to just go out there and fight these girls and win. I don’t want just a decision win. I want to go out there and hurt these girls and make sure they know when they get done with a fight with me, they never want to fight me again.
“I think Erin’s a one-dimensional fighter and I think I’ve made that pretty known. She has her grappling and she has her wrestling ability, but aside from that, I don’t think she’s a great striker. She’s not a finisher and she’s not a dangerous fighter. She has some submission wins, but what makes me different from her is I go out there to hurt you and I go out there to make you bleed. I think that’s what’s going to be my advantage. I don’t care where the fight goes. Whether it’s standing or on the ground, I’m going to finish Erin Blanchfield.”
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