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Erin Blanchfield was ready to fight Maycee Barber in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas during the weekend, but the fight was canceled moments before the bell spread.
Barber, who competes in the female fly division, had not fought since March 2024 due to a disease that, according to her, led to a stay at the hospital for almost two weeks. Barber lost weight on Friday by half a pound and was ready to yield 20% of his bag to Blanchfield, according to ESPN.
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Erin Blanchfield during UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 12, 2022. (Jessica Alcheh-USA Today Sports)
Things took another strange turn on Saturday night.
Blanchfield said at the press conference of the UFC fight after the UFC Business Director, Hunter Campbell, told his barber suffering a seizure minutes before she walked towards the octagon, according to MMA Junkie. ESPN’s stations said Barber suffered a medical problem.
“I feel that I am still quite incredulous at this time,” Blanchfield added, through MMA Junkie. “I feel that I was incredulous yesterday when he lost weight because we knew about this fight since January. You could have had 50 pounds of overweight and still lost weight.
“Then, weight was lost, then it comes to Saturday. He arrives at the costume. I am completely ready to leave. It is supposed to be ready to start. Allegedly now has all these health problems well when we are supposed to fight. I think it’s quite crazy. I think it’s quite unprofessional. He won’t want to fight it again.”
Maycee Barber before his fight with Katlyn Cerminara during UFC 299 at the Kayesa Center in Miami, Florida, on March 9, 2024. (Sam Navarro-USA Today Sports)
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Barber published and shared videos on his Instagram page promoting his return to the octagon. But she did not address any supposed medical problem in social networks.
Pak Gazette Digital communicated with the UFC to comment.
Blanchfield was asked if he had advice for Barber.
“I don’t know, she needs to look at another division,” he said. “You need to fix your life. You just need to get ready. I think it is a complete disaster in all aspects of your whole life.”
Erin Blanchfield, on the left, fights with Manon Fiorot during the UFC fighting night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on March 30, 2024. (Ed Mulholland-USA Today Sports)
Blanchfield is 13-2 in his MMA career. She defeated Rose Namajunas in November by unanimous decision.
