Maycee Barber struggles to explain medical issue that forced UFC on ESPN 68 withdrawal
Maycee Barber has opened up on the medical issue that caused her to withdraw from UFC on ESPN 68, but she doesn't have many answers.
Just 30 minutes before she was scheduled to make the walk against Erin Blanchfield in this past Saturday's flyweight main event at the UFC Apex, Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was transported to the hospital after she wasn't medically cleared to compete, and the fight was canceled. She checked out of the hospital Monday, but a couple of days later, Barber is still trying to figure out exactly what happened.
"We're not entirely sure what happened," Barber told ESPN. "Obviously there was a medical emergency. We're not quite sure exactly what it was, what it is, but there was something that happened, and I don't exactly remember everything. But there was an event that happened in the back when I was warming up, and the doctor, the commissioners, like everybody saw it. The commissioners were asking me if I was OK, and I was saying that I was, and they didn't think that I was.
"They kept asking the coaches, and the coaches were like – again, I'm not entirely sure because it's hard for me to remember everything that happened, but from what I was told, the coaches were like, 'We're not quite sure.' They were trying to figure it out, and they ended up getting the doctors. Next thing I know, I was in the back of an ambulance and being transported to a hospital. I stayed there and was doing a bunch of tests and trying to figure out what was going on."
This isn't the first time Barber has been hospitalized for medical reasons caused by a fight. She spent nine days in the hospital after defeating Katlyn Cerminara at UFC 299, and ongoing health issues forced her to withdraw from her UFC on ESPN 59 bout against Rose Namajunas last July.
Barber said the UFC is seeking the best doctors and specialists to get to the bottom of what exactly happened to her.
"It looked like my autonomic nervous system might have been having an issue," Barber said. "They said it looked like a pseudo-seizure, is what I was told, but there's no answer. We need to run tests."
Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) was visibly frustrated and went off on Barber, who is more upset with how the fans have reacted.
"I see people commenting, 'Oh, I'm glad it happened to her and not to someone who is relevant,' and I feel that's a pretty heartless and cold thing to say," Barber said. "I wouldn't wish that on anybody. I wouldn't wish this kind of situation, an unknown situation, on anybody. It's frustrating because it makes me have a lot of sympathy toward whoever has a medical issue or something going on in their life."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tarik Skubal reacts to Detroit Tigers' MLB trade deadline moves
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal reacted to the team's underwhelming MLB trade deadline moves while speaking from the dugout in-game on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday against Philadelphia Phillies. "I'm excited, it's the first time I've been part of a team that's acquired talent at the deadline," Skubal said during the fourth inning speaking with ESPN's Karl Ravech, Eduardo Pérez and David Cone. "I've been apart of four teams that have sold and that's not a fun place to be. ... I met a lot of them for the first time yesterday and just after the game we sat in the locker room and talked shop for probably an hour after the game and I think that's pretty cool. "I feel like we've kind of got a brand new team all of a sudden." The Tigers added five pitchers to the MLB roster at Thursday's deadline, though none are having great seasons. TRENDING: Scott Harris chose not to take what might be Tigers' best shot to win World Series Skubal, rightfully so, said he doesn't care what others are saying about the team's moves and outlook the rest of the season. There are 49 games before the 2025 playoffs begin in early October. "A lot of us don't care either," Skubal said. "We're gonna play baseball, we know what we got. We know the talent that we have and we know what it takes to win baseball games. At the end of the day that's all that matters." Buy our book: The Epic History of the Tigers Skubal earned the win Saturday in the Tigers' 7-5 win over the Phillies, tossing seven innings of three-run ball. Skubal is one of the biggest stories in baseball and not just for his on-field prolifics: He's scheduled to become a free agent after the 2026 season, where he could become the sport's first $400 million pitcher. Before then, he has two potential playoff runs to make with the Tigers in 2025 and 2026, and he and his wife, Jessica, welcomed a second child last week. [ NEW TIGERS NEWSLETTER! Sign up for The Purr-fect Game, a weekly dose of Tigers news, numbers and analysis for Freep subscribers. ] But most importantly, how many cheesesteaks did the lefty eat while in Philadelphia for this three-game series? "I had one last night, I had one in the clubhouse today, I'm probably gonna have another one right after this," Skubal said answering Pérez's question. "Couldn't eat any yesterday because I had to pitch." Have one for us, too, Tarik. [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] Follow the best Tigers coverage all year long at and sign up for our Tigers newsletter: The Purr-fect Game. Stay connected and stay informed. Become a Detroit Free Press subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tarik Skubal reacts to Detroit Tigers trade deadline moves
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Arman Tsarukyan names Khabib Nurmagomedov as biggest inspiration growing up
Arman Tsarukyan looked up to Khabib Nurmagomedov during his rise in MMA. Like Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC), Tsarukyan is known for his elite grappling. Nurmagomedov retired as an undefeated UFC lightweight champion and is widely considered as the most dominant fighter of all time. Tsarukyan (23-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is still in his pursuit of gold, and was scheduled to challenge Nurmagomedov's protege, Islam Makhachev, for the lightweight title at UFC 311 in January before withdrawing the day before due to a back injury. "I've got a lot of favorite fighters that I watch their fights always to see how they move, how they wrestle,' Tsarukyan said on the "Out Cold" podcast. "But if we say who inspired me when I was young, it was Khabib because he is from Russia and I'm from Russia, as well. I live there. When I started training MMA, he was a goal for us. He wasn't the champ at that moment, but he was so famous." When former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria was campaigning to fight Makhachev for the lightweight title, Nurmagomedov said he saw Tsarukyan as a sterner test to prep for. Makhachev has since relinquished his 155-pound title to go after the welterweight title.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Angela Hill: 'I'm right there' for title shot with UFC on ESPN 72 win vs. Iasmin Lucindo
Angela Hill might be 40, but she still thinks her most glorious MMA moments still are on the horizon. Longtime octagon veteran Hill (18-14 MMA, 13-14 UFC) will take on 23-year-old Iasmin Lucindo (17-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 72, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (ESPN, ESPN+). With three victories in her past four fights, Hill sees herself on an upward trajectory in the strawweight division. She has no thoughts about retirement, and argues that beating a promising prospect who is 17 years her junior would be a statement about where she fits in the weight class. "I think I've really expanded the idea of what the window could be," Hill told MMA Junkie Radio. "I think just keeping that momentum going and see how long I can push it, see how good I can get, how high I can climb. I'm motivated by the close decisions I've lost because I feel like in an alternate universe, I would've fought for the belt by now. "It's more so the motivation of showing the potential I have before it's too late. That drives me every time I get in there. Now that I've been in the top 15 for a few years, I know I'm right there." Lucindo has had a quick rise through the 115-pound division, already racking up wins over former title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz and longtime contender Marina Rodriguez. The Brazilian is coming off a setback against Amanda Lemos at UFC 313 in March, and although Hill also has a loss to Lemos, she said it was much more competitive. Hill is not relying on MMA math to get the job done, but she sees vulnerabilities in Lucindo's game, and intends to take advantage. "If I'm fighting someone that likes to stand and bang, I'm like, 'Oh yeah, we're going to get that money,'" Hill said. "It's also nice because there's more opportunities to take advantage of someone with less experience. I feel like with her, because she's a little wild, because she comes in swinging wide and tries to throw big, there's moments where I can capitalize on that. I'm definitely excited." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Angela Hill: 'I'm right there' for title shot with UFC Vegas 109 win
