Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber face off this Saturday at UFC Fight Night, held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, in a bout that could earn the winner a shot at women’s flyweight champion Valentino Shevchenko. Both fighters are aiming to advance their redemption stories and stake their claim as top contenders in the division.
Backgrounds and Recent Form of the Fighters
Erin Blanchfield enters the fight with a 13-2 record as she works her way back after a defeat to Manon Fiorot, a recent title challenger in the women’s flyweight division. Blanchfield restored momentum by defeating former women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas, and another victory could place her alongside title contenders Natalia Silva and Zhang Weili. Blanchfield’s rise has drawn criticism from Barber, who labeled her fighting style as boring and suggested Blanchfield’s win over Namajunas was undeserved. Blanchfield retorted by dismissing Barber’s remarks as jealousy.
“She calls anyone she doesn’t want to fight boring,”
Blanchfield told CBS Sports.
“I remember when Manon and I were going to fight, she called us both boring. She pulled out of a fight with me and denied a fight with Manon. It’s her way of maybe throwing jabs at people she’s jealous of.”
—Erin Blanchfield, UFC fighter
Maycee Barber, nicknamed “The Future,” holds a 14-2 record and once harbored ambitions of breaking Jon Jones’ record as the youngest UFC champion. Now 27, Barber’s trajectory slowed after losses to Roxanne Modafferi and Alexa Grasso, dampening her early promise. However, Barber has since accumulated six consecutive wins, positioning Saturday’s bout as a pivotal statement to prove her status as a legitimate contender.
“Having goals and ambitions, and being very outspoken about them, is important,”
Barber said to CBS Sports.
“If you have a goal and dream you’re not willing to share, I think it’s because you have a little bit of doubt. I don’t think anyone should ever doubt themselves, especially if they’re getting into a cage to fight another person.”
—Maycee Barber, UFC fighter
“I am the more well-rounded fighter. I am the more dominant fighter. I am the meaner fighter. I plan on going out there and hurting Erin Blanchfield.”
—Maycee Barber, UFC fighter
Other Fights and Event Details to Watch
The remainder of the main card offers limited excitement with the exception of seventh-ranked lightweight Mateusz Gamrot, who will take on unranked contender L’udovit Klein. Although Klein boasts an undefeated streak in his last seven bouts, matching up with Gamrot—coming off a split decision loss to Dan Hooker—seems like a challenging step forward.
The UFC Fight Night event will take place on May 31 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, with the main card starting at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the fights live on ESPN+.
Detailed Fight Analysis and Prediction
In the headliner, the contrasting fighting styles should dictate the outcome. Barber excels from a top position, but Blanchfield is known for her exceptional control, as demonstrated in her ability to dominate Rose Namajunas. Although Barber possesses a well-rounded skill set, her 53% takedown defense indicates vulnerability on the ground. The wrestling advantage is more pronounced than the striking edge, where Barber may hold a slight lead.
Given Blanchfield’s superior grappling and dominance in close quarters, she is expected to control the fight and earn a decision victory in what will be Barber’s first five-round contest. The match represents a crucial step for both fighters in reclaiming title contention status.
Prediction: Erin Blanchfield wins via unanimous decision.