The highly anticipated UFC main event featuring Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber was abruptly cancelled just moments before the fighters were set to enter the Octagon. This decision followed a medical emergency involving Barber, who had previously missed weight by a small margin prior to the fight.
Blanchfield, unfazed by the weight issue, was eager to compete and had prepared thoroughly for the afternoon bout in Las Vegas. However, as the excitement built following the co-main event between Mateusz Gamrot and Ludovit Klein, it was revealed that Barber would not be able to fight due to a medical crisis.
In an interview with ESPN’s Megan Olivi, Blanchfield detailed her conversation with UFC executive Hunter Campbell, who informed her that Barber had experienced a seizure and was deemed unfit to compete. “I was in disbelief; I had just finished warming up and was ready to go when we received the news,” she shared, expressing her shock at the turn of events.
Despite the intensity of the lead-up to the fight and Barber’s earlier weight issues, Blanchfield has firmly stated that she has no interest in rescheduling the bout. She noted, “It’s quite rare for a fighter to pull out on fight day, especially after missing weight, so I didn’t expect this.” Blanchfield’s frustration was palpable as she labelled the situation as “super unprofessional”, urging her team to focus on the fight rather than engaging with Barber, whom she believed was at a different skill level.
As of now, Barber’s camp has yet to comment publicly on the incident. The abrupt cancellation has left fans and commentators speculating about the implications for both fighters’ careers, as Blanchfield was prepared and in peak condition to compete, while Barber’s medical issue raises concerns about her future in the sport.