Maycee Barber‘s journey to becoming the fastest ever UFC champion took a slight derailment Saturday at UFC 246. The biggest favorite on the card was upset by ‘The Happy Warrior’ Roxanne Modafferi.
Barber lost a lopsided unanimous decision to UFC veteran Roxanne Modafferi (30-27, 30-26, 30-26). Modafferi used her experience against Barber and utilized her ground game to neutralize the power of 21-year-old Barber. Barber managed to maintain her composure on the ground but Modaferri’s experience was overwhelming.
?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">What a life. Tonight may not have gone my way but there is not a single piece of regret in me. I am so blessed to live the life I have and I thank God everyday for the people in it. Thank you @roxyfighter for sharing the octagon with me tonight. I'd be lying if I said I didn't plan on walking out of there 9-0 but I did what I could and tonight that wasn't enough to get my hand raised. Huge thank you to everyone who supports me and this journey through the ups and downs. I couldn't ask for a better team to have by my side to cheer with me when I win and wipe my tears (and blood🤷♀️) when I lose. I love you all. I'll be back (it might take a few days of healing 😂)…The outcome of this fight may not have happened according to plan but my Goal of beating Jon Jones record and being the youngest champion in UFC history stays the same. XOXO ~Maycee
Midway through the 2nd round, Barber was caught with a punch that clearly wobbled her. Barber wobbled backward and cameras show her wincing in pain and grabbing her left knee. From that point on the fight, Barber struggled with her agility and mobility.
After the 2nd round, a ringside doctor examined Barber’s leg and told referee Herb Dean she had a partial ACL tear but was fine to continue. Modafferi would continue her dominance on the ground and seal the victory.
After the fight, Maycee’s father released a statement that indicated that Barber likely injured her knee in the 1st round and that the effects of her ACL tear worsened over the next 2 rounds. She is expected to miss 9 months with an ACL tear.
Prior to UFC 246, Maycee Barber had made it clear to the world she wanted to become the youngest UFC champion. The record is held by Jon Jones who won the UFC Lightweight Champion at 23 years old. Barber at only 21 years old is a rising star in the UFC. Modafferi will climb in the ranking from her #7 spot and inch a step closer to be in the mix for title contention.
