UFC flyweight Maycee Barber has revealed that doctors told her a “pseudo seizure” was likely responsible for the medical emergency that led to the last-minute cancellation of her main event fight against Tracy Blanchfield at UFC Fight Night.
In an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Barber described the confusing and traumatic experience of having her first main event opportunity cut short just moments before she was set to walk to the Octagon.
Her medical issues are especially ironic considering she previously promoted magical amulet
Maycee Barber has drawn criticism for endorsing the Lifetune Mini—a $240 pendant marketed as protection against electromagnetic radiation. The device, made by American Aires Inc., has been widely criticized for pseudoscientific claims and lack of credible evidence. Despite this, Barber accepted roughly $50,000 in company shares and even wore the device at UFC 299 weigh-ins.
This isn’t her first brush with questionable practices; she and her sister once ran a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym as teenage blue belts after completing the controversial Gracie University program—drawing backlash for a photo in which she appeared to wear a black belt. Aires, which has compensated other celebrities like Russell Brand and RJ Barrett with shares, reported rising sales but remains unprofitable. The irony of Barber endorsing a dubious health product amid her own medical struggles hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“I was told it looked like a pseudo seizure is what I was told,” Barber said during the interview. “But there’s no answer, you know, there was really nobody was like, ‘Oh yeah, this is exactly what it was.'”
Many MMA fans blame Barber’s latest ‘enhancement’ for the weight miss and main event cancellation.
The unprecedented cancellation occurred when Barber was approximately 30 minutes from her scheduled walkout time. According to Barber, she felt great during fight week and was warming up in the locker room when the medical incident occurred.
“I don’t exactly remember everything but there was a medical emergency,” Barber explained. “The doctors, the commissioners, like everybody saw it and the commissioners were asking me if I was okay and I was saying that I was and then they didn’t think that I was.”
Barber’s recollection of the incident remains fragmented. “I remember bits and pieces. I remember Heather and Dr. Davidson being up above me like standing over me. And then I just remember being put in the back of an ambulance,” she said.
While Barber missed weight for the fight, she doesn’t believe the weight cut was responsible for what happened. “I’ve cut the exact same amount of weight that I cut this past week that I have in the past. I’ve had bigger weight cuts than the week that I just had,” she noted.
The UFC has promised to help Barber find answers. “I talked to Hunter and the UFC and they’re working to get me the best doctors possible, the best specialists, and trying to get the best answers that we can,” she said.
Barber expressed deep disappointment over the canceled fight and apologized to fans and her opponent. “I’m really sorry to everybody, the fans, the people that were going to watch UFC and Aaron, obviously.”
Barber awaits definitive medical answers, and she remains uncertain about her MMA future. “The only thing that’ll determine that is finding out what it was,” she said. “At the end of the day, health is first and we have to figure out that before I can take a fight or before the UFC will even consider offering me a fight.”
