Maycee Barber Defeats Miranda Maverick at UFC Vegas 32

Barber faced a tough opponent in Miranda Maverick (11-3). Since making her UFC debut in late 2020, the 24-year-old from Norfolk, Virginia, had claimed two back-to-back victories in the UFC. Her overall streak entailed five consecutive wins as a pro, and she stepped into the Octagon as the betting odds favorite on Saturday night.

A tight back-and-forth battle unfolded in the first round with Maverick bringing the pressure and Barber evading body kicks and jabs. But with Maverick landing the more significant punches, Barber had to step up her game in Round 2. That’s when “Future” started landing combinations and pinned her opponent to the ground before the end of the second round.

It all came down to the third and final round, as Barber stepped up her offense. After landing combination strikes from the distance, she engaged her opponent into a clinch while continuing to connect heavy shots. A key moment unfolded when Barber landed a spinning back elbow that rocked Maverick, right before spending the final moments of Round 3 in a heavy exchange of shots to the finish. When all was said and done, the judges called the close fight a split decision victory for Barber (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).

Asked about her performance during the final round, Barber said: “I tried to do something big. I want to win over the fans, and I wanted to win over the judges. I went for something big, and it paid off. I definitely had a good fight with her!”

Saturday night’s win brings Barber’s professional record to nine wins and two losses. After making her debut on the Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) circuit, she broke into the UFC with a knockout performance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018. As a UFC pro, a flurry of back-to-back TKO victories earned the young fighter her nickname, “The Future”.

Now that she’s back in the winner’s circle, what’s next for Barber? In her post-fight press conference, the Monster Energy athlete pointed out No. 8 UFC Flyweight Jessica Eye. “She’s coming off a loss and I’d like to get a win over Jessica Eye and take that No. 8 spot.” Stay tuned!