Maycee Barber would not need Mark Smith reffing her fights after 'horrible' dealing with of UFC 323 foul

[ad_1] Early this 12 months, Maycee Barber’s profession appeared to spiral in a single day. Using one of the best streak of her UFC run — six straight wins — the surging flyweight was lastly set for her first UFC primary occasion reverse rival Erin Blanchfield. Then, minutes earlier than walkout, Barber, 27, collapsed backstage. The battle was canceled. The occasion led to surreal vogue. And immediately, her future appeared unsure.

At UFC 323, Barber lastly received her reset. She battled by way of adversity in opposition to Brazil’s Karine Silva to earn a unanimous resolution win this previous weekend, though her victory was not with out controversy. Halfway by way of the battle, Barber absorbed an unlawful upkick that left her visibly dazed, but no level was deducted by referee Mark Smith, who dismissed the foul as a "glancing" blow and subsequently restarted the motion on the toes.

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To Barber, Smith's dealing with of the scenario was indefensible.

"I used to be somewhat confused as a result of, watching it again after we had been warming up, there was a lot dialog about fingers," Barber mentioned on Tuesday's "The Ariel Helwani Present." "How in case your fingers are up versus in case your fingers are down, you get a tough warning within the again — if you are going to poke somebody within the eye, your first warning is within the again. In case you by accident poke somebody within the eye, you immediately get some extent taken away.

"However an eye-poke, I feel, is nothing in comparison with getting illegally kicked within the head, for my part. Having somebody kick you within the head whenever you're a downed opponent, I feel that that is a considerably extra impactful strike than getting an eye-poke. ... Both means, I feel each of these issues are unlawful for a purpose.

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"Her intention of throwing that kick when she was on the bottom is to rise up. So in case your intention is to throw the kick as a way to rise up off the bottom, then both put her again down on the bottom [or] take some extent. As an alternative it was, 'We'll reset you each on the toes, and we're not going to take some extent.' It is somewhat bit irritating watching it again, however I nonetheless gained by unanimous resolution and dominated that battle."

Smith later got here beneath scrutiny once more at UFC 323 when he stopped Brandon Moreno vs. Tatsuro Taira after a speedy ground-and-pound flurry. The fast stoppage, paired along with his mishandling of Barber's upkick sequence, led many followers to query Smith’s whole night time.

Barber hopes she doesn’t see him once more.

"I feel that was an enormous mistake on Mark Smith's finish," Barber mentioned. "That was horrible. I do not need him reffing my fights. You are going to let somebody upkick me after which inform me that, 'That was not a tough blow. Cease. Loosen up.' What the heck? That was a tough blow. Watching it again, I used to be undoubtedly wobbled."

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Controversy apart, Barber’s return meant every part to her.

She hadn’t fought since March 2024, when she defeated Katlyn Cermenara.

“I used to be not a nice particular person to be round this camp," Barber mentioned. "I used to be not enjoyable to be round. I used to be very offended. I used to be very aggressive. I used to be very, nearly like bitter, in a means.

"I simply wished to make it to the battle. ... I put all of my coaching companions and all of the coaches by way of literal hell due to how a lot pent-up aggression and anger I had inside me from having so many camps and never having the ability to battle, and simply desirous to make everyone glad and proud."

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Together with her momentum restored and her No. 5 rating intact, Barber is now an noticed as to how the highest of the flyweight division performs out. UFC champion Valentina Shevchenko just lately defended her belt in opposition to former strawweight titleholder Zhang Weili, whereas prime contenders Natalia Silva and Rose Namajunas are slated to fulfill Jan. 24 to find out the following main participant at 125 kilos.

Barber needs a title shot, however she additionally needs a particular identify.

"On the prime, there's solely so many people," Barber mentioned.

"I need the belt. Whoever is in the best way goes to get taken out. ... You guys already know I have been calling for my rematch for some time in opposition to Alexa Grasso — would like to take that one out."

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With UFC gold remaining Barber's focus, Shevchenko has been the centerpiece of the division since Barber joined the UFC in 2018. The Zhang battle was one of many higher-profile collisions of Shevchenko's profession — billed as champion vs. champion, the matchup between two all-time greats ended up merely being one other Shevchenko masterclass, as she defeated Zhang from pillar to submit for 5 rounds.

Watching intently when it occurred, Barber felt the outcome wasn't a shock.

"I used to be sort of pondering it might be attention-grabbing to see if Weili is sufficiently big," Barber mentioned, "however I wasn't positive as a result of Valentina would not stroll round that vast. She would not have an enormous reduce, from my understanding, so I wasn't fairly positive how that will go. However I did not assume it might be an excellent thrilling battle, if I am trustworthy. However I am not shocked by the result. Valentina's an amazing fighter, however I wasn't actually impressed."

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Shevchenko's efficiency drew criticism on-line for being on the duller aspect. Whereas Barber did not go so far as to label the champion boring, she acknowledged that she does perceive the method.

"Valentina isn't just going to go on the market and do something pointless," Barber mentioned. "She's good, so she's going to do what she must do to win, and that is all she must do.

"She's the champion. She would not must exit and get the belt. She has to defend her belt. Now, does that essentially make the UFC glad? I do not know. I do not assume that that is what the UFC actually needs."

Barber could have missed out on her purpose of turning into the youngest champion in UFC historical past, however she nonetheless believes her time is coming. By this time subsequent 12 months, she mentioned, she expects to be sporting gold.