Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) flyweight phenom Maycee Barber, who made a name for herself with a savage finish on Dana White’s “Contender Series,” cracked the division Top 10 this week after smashing Gillian Robertson at UFC Boston last weekend on ESPN2.
That’s five spots ahead of division veteran and swimsuit model Paige VanZant.
Calling for a fight against “12 Gauge” might seem like a step backwards, at least in terms of her title aspirations, but “The Future” understands the former “Dancing with the Stars” finalist is a bigger star than some of the higher-ranked opponents, like Viviane Araujo (No. 6) or Andrea Lee (No. 7).
Chalk it up to wishful thinking.
“One of the first lessons we learn in martial arts is respect,” VanZant wrote on Instagram. “I respect those who have dedicated themselves to this profession and given it their everything to achieve greatness through showcasing their skill. I respect every female fighter tagged in this post. With that said, it would be an honor to share the cage with any of you ladies at 115 or 125. If any of you are interested, let UFC and Mick Maynard know because I’m healthy and ready to get back in there.”
The post in question (see it here) tagged almost all the relevant female fighters in the UFC flyweight division, as well as the 115-pound weight class. The latter is where VanZant used to compete until the brutal weight cut became too detrimental to her fight night performances.
The only name missing? Barber!
It stands to reason that “12 Gauge” is in a big hurry to satisfy the last remaining fight on her current UFC contract, so that she can start fielding offers from other combat sports promotions. Then again, VanZant could just retire and live off those Instagram riches.