Maycee Barber Suffers Medical Emergency Before UFC Fight
UFC flyweight fighter Maycee Barber was forced to withdraw from her bout on Saturday due to a “medical emergency” that occurred approximately 30 minutes before stepping into the octagon.
Barber, ranked at number 4, was scheduled to face Erin Blanchfield in the main event of UFC Fight Night at the Apex in Las Vegas. The fight was canceled after a medical complication arose in the locker room during Barber’s warm-up, according to the fighter.
Due to the urgency of the situation and the process of withdrawing Barber, the official cancellation of the fight occurred after the UFC had already issued a promotional video and fans were waiting for Barber’s entrance music. Blanchfield commented that she was informed that Barber had suffered a seizure, although Barber indicated that the exact cause has not yet been determined.
Barber explained that it could have been a problem with his autonomic nervous system, possibly a “pseudo-attack”, as he was informed, but that he still needs more tests to get a definitive answer. The 27-year-old fighter stated she felt well before the complication. Although she didn’t make weight by half a kilo the day before the fight, Barber indicated it was a normal weight cut and there were no obvious signs of medical problems during or after it. She was hospitalized on Saturday night and discharged on Monday. Barber was also hospitalized in 2024 for medical issues that doctors still don’t fully understand. She is currently on a six-fight winning streak, but hasn’t fought since March 2024. Furthermore, she was forced to withdraw from a scheduled fight against Rose Namajunas in July 2024. Barber mentioned that the UFC has already been working to connect her with several specialists. Given the need to identify the real cause of the problem, there is no defined timeframe for her return. Despite the frustration, Barber expressed her gratitude for being alive.“We’re not entirely sure what happened. There was an event in the locker room while I was warming up, and the doctor, the commissioners, everyone saw it. The commissioners asked me if I was okay. I said yes, but they didn’t believe it.
Maycee Barber
