Erin Blanchfield reacted with frustration and disappointment after Maycee Barber withdrew from their scheduled main event at UFC Fight Night on May 31, moments before they were set to enter the octagon live on ESPN. Barber’s sudden cancellation was reportedly due to a seizure, leaving the UFC, commentators, and Blanchfield herself stunned.
Blanchfield Criticizes Barber’s Unprofessionalism Following Cancellation
After the event was called off, Erin Blanchfield expressed sharp criticism toward Maycee Barber, questioning her professionalism and reliability as a fighter. Speaking to reporters, Blanchfield said she no longer wanted to face Barber in the future, citing a series of troubling issues leading up to fight night.
Blanchfield recalled her disbelief over Barber missing weight the day before the match, a situation she already found surprising given the early planning of the fight.
“I feel like I’m in disbelief right now,”
Blanchfield said,
“I was in disbelief yesterday when she missed weight. We knew about this fight since January — you could have been 50 pounds overweight, and still made weight.”
She emphasized her readiness to compete as scheduled, expressing frustration that Barber was suddenly sidelined by health issues.
When asked how she learned about the reason for the cancellation, Blanchfield revealed,
“I was told she had a seizure in the locker room. I wasn’t told how, or why, exactly that was caused. But that was what I was told.”
She described the moments leading to the cancellation as chaotic and far longer than the announced six-minute warning before the fight start.
“No one said anything until Hunter came in and told me, ‘She is having a seizure and wouldn’t be able to compete.’ And, yeah, I don’t know, it’s almost a nightmare. Sometimes you have jitters and wonder if the fight won’t happen, but you never want that. It’s pretty disappointing,”
Blanchfield added.
Blanchfield Calls for Barber to Reassess Her Career and Life
Continuing her candid remarks, Blanchfield urged Barber to reconsider her current fighting division and address broader personal challenges.
“She needs to look at another division. She needs to fix her life. She needs to fix herself. I think she’s a mess in every aspect of her entire life,”
Blanchfield stated, showing her strong disapproval.
UFC Ensures Blanchfield Receives Full Compensation Despite Fight Cancellation
Despite not competing due to Barber’s abrupt withdrawal, Blanchfield’s representation, KO Reps, confirmed that the UFC honored her contract by paying both her show money and potential win bonus. This gesture recognizes the disruption and maintains fairness for Blanchfield’s preparedness and professionalism.
Additional Remarks from Sports Figures After UFC Fight Night Incident
In a lighter moment after the event, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov joked about an unlikely comeback bout against internet personality IShowSpeed following the UEFA Champions League final, offering a brief diversion from the tension surrounding the cancellation.
The dramatic cancellation of the UFC Fight Night main event between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber highlights ongoing challenges in fight preparation and health management within the sport. The controversy and Blanchfield’s harsh criticism may impact future matchups involving Barber, while the UFC’s prompt compensation reflects the organization’s commitment to its fighters amid unforeseen circumstances.