Maycee Barber was just moments away from the biggest fight of her career when everything came to a screeching halt.
The 27-year-old UFC flyweight was warming up backstage at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Saturday, preparing to headline against top contender Erin Blanchfield. Then, something went wrong. A sudden and unexplained medical emergency unfolded in the locker room—just 30 minutes before her scheduled walk to the Octagon.
“I was getting ready, doing my usual routine, and then… something happened,” Barber told ESPN in an emotional interview. “The doctors and commissioners saw it. They asked if I was okay, and I said I was—but they didn’t think I was.”
The fight was abruptly called off. Fans had already seen Barber’s intro video. Her walkout music was moments away from playing. But behind the scenes, UFC officials made the call to prioritize her safety and cancel the bout.
Blanchfield later told media she was informed Barber may have suffered a seizure. Barber, however, said no one is certain yet. Doctors described the incident as resembling a “pseudo-seizure,” potentially involving her autonomic nervous system—a condition that still needs further investigation.
“It’s frustrating because we don’t have answers yet,” she said. “I felt fine that day. The weight cut was typical. Nothing felt off. But clearly, something was.”
Barber was taken to the hospital that evening and discharged two days later. This isn’t the first time she’s faced mysterious medical issues. In 2024, she was also hospitalized with unexplained symptoms that doctors still haven’t fully diagnosed. That incident forced her to withdraw from a scheduled fight with Rose Namajunas last July.
Despite a six-fight win streak and years of momentum behind her, Barber hasn’t fought since March 2024. Now, her future remains uncertain as specialists work to uncover what happened.
“The UFC has been incredibly supportive,” she said. “They’re helping me connect with the right doctors. But for now, I have no timetable for a return.”
The emotional toll has been immense.
“I’ve dedicated my life to this,” Barber said. “Since I was a little girl, this was the dream: to walk out under those lights, to fight. I’ve been in the UFC for eight years. To get all the way to fight night and not make that walk—it broke my heart.”
She’s also had to deal with cruel comments online.
“Some people said, ‘At least it didn’t happen to someone relevant,’ and that really hurt. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” she said. “This is my life. My career. My health. And right now, I’m just grateful to be alive.”
