Does Maycee Barber Have a Path to Victory Against Erin Blanchfield?
Next weekend’s UFC main event features a compelling matchup between Maycee Barber and Erin Blanchfield in the Women’s Flyweight Division. These two rising contenders represent the future of the weight class and find themselves on the cusp of title contention. Maycee Barber was once on a mission to become the youngest champion in UFC history. Although injuries and setbacks delayed that goal, she has since adjusted her approach and tightened up her overall skill set. On the other side, Erin Blanchfield has built a reputation as a dominant wrestler with high-level submission ability. However, she recently suffered her first UFC loss against Manon Fiorot, who effectively defended takedowns and exposed deficiencies in Blanchfield’s striking. Barber enters this bout as a significant underdog, which raises the question: Does she have a legitimate chance to pull off the upset?
Maycee Barber possesses a well-rounded and technical skill set that gives her a clear path to victory. She has solid wrestling, dangerous jiu-jitsu, and crisp, fundamental striking led by an effective jab. Given Blanchfield’s struggles on the feet, Barber’s best chance is to keep the fight standing and apply consistent pressure with her striking. If the bout remains on the feet, Blanchfield could find herself in serious trouble. However, Blanchfield’s takedowns and ground control are among the best in the UFC’s Women’s Flyweight Division. It is reasonable to assume that she has been working hard to improve those areas following the shortcomings exposed in her last performance. For Barber to win, she must focus on takedown defense, scramble intelligently whenever she is taken down, and maintain a high striking volume. Damage and control through effective striking exchanges offer the clearest path to victory.
Despite entering the fight as a heavy underdog, Maycee Barber should not be overlooked. While Erin Blanchfield remains an elite grappler, her most recent performance revealed striking vulnerabilities that Barber is particularly well-equipped to exploit. Barber has the tools to pepper Blanchfield with jabs, manage distance, and force scrambles whenever the fight hits the mat. If she can keep the fight competitive on the ground and dominate the stand-up exchanges, she has a strong chance of securing a narrow decision victory. Based on her versatility and grit, Barber is a highly appealing underdog in this matchup.
