Ben Askren has some high hopes for UFC flyweight competitor Maycee Barber. Askren has coached Barber for wrestling throughout her mixed martial arts (MMA) career, and even offers her advice in regards to promotional work as well. Recently, Askren was a guest on “The Ariel Helwani MMA Show” and was asked about his work with […]
Ben Askren has some high hopes for UFC flyweight competitor Maycee Barber.
Askren has coached Barber for wrestling throughout her mixed martial arts (MMA) career, and even offers her advice in regards to promotional work as well. Recently, Askren was a guest on “The Ariel Helwani MMA Show” and was asked about his work with Barber, and asked to predict on her future in the UFC.
“Funky” noted that he thinks Barber will be in line to challenge for a championship before the end of 2020. (H/T BJPenn.com)
“Well, I don’t actually train with her, I coach her, you know maybe show her how to do a technique,” Askren said. “She’s awesome, fantastic, she’s going to blast Roxy [Modafferi]. I think she’s going to get a title shot by the end of the year. She’ll probably fight Roxy, then maybe Jessica Eye, someone in that range, then probably for the title.”
Before that, Barber will face off against former UFC women’s flyweight title challenger and longtime MMA veteran Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 246. The show goes down from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 18. It will be interesting to see if Barber can, in fact, line herself up for a shot at the flyweight title before the end of 2020, which is currently held by the dominant Valentina Shevchenko.
Do you think Barber will be challenging for a title by the end of the year?
From a skill standpoint, Maycee Barber believes that she has drawn a much tougher opponent in Roxanne Modafferi than she would have if she got her wish to fight Paige VanZant. Maycee Barber has moved on from Paige VanZant and has made it clear that she…
From a skill standpoint, Maycee Barber believes that she has drawn a much tougher opponent in Roxanne Modafferi than she would have if she got her wish to fight Paige VanZant. Maycee Barber has moved on from Paige VanZant and has made it clear that she is “over it,” and this comes after having her […]
Maycee Barber seems to have finally given up on her quest to fight Paige VanZant. For several months, Maycee Barber has been calling out Paige VanZant, whether in an Octagon interview or in any of the other several times she has been interviewed outsid…
Maycee Barber seems to have finally given up on her quest to fight Paige VanZant. For several months, Maycee Barber has been calling out Paige VanZant, whether in an Octagon interview or in any of the other several times she has been interviewed outside of the cage. As of yet, the fight has not materialized. […]
Despite her best efforts, Maycee Barber was unable to land her desired fight with Paige VanZant next. Instead, Barber will be taking on longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Roxanne Modafferi on January 18 from Las Vegas. It’s the same card Conor McGregor is rumored to make his highly-anticipated return on after over a year […]
Despite her best efforts, Maycee Barber was unable to land her desired fight with Paige VanZant next.
Instead, Barber will be taking on longtime mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Roxanne Modafferi on January 18 from Las Vegas. It’s the same card Conor McGregor is rumored to make his highly-anticipated return on after over a year away. Speaking to Submission Radio recently, Barber explained why the fight with VanZant didn’t come together.
“They offered it to Paige at 125, she said no. From what I heard, she said she wanted a fight at 115 but she would need more time. So, as far as I know, it’s offered to her at 125 when she wants to take the fight at 125. And other than that, it’s kind of like, I’m just gonna keep doing what I do with my career, and when she decides to fight, we’ll fight.”
Despite claims of wanting a fight at 115 pounds, Barber doesn’t think VanZant will ever make that weight again. Regardless, she’s focused now on Modafferi, and moving up the ranks within the division in hopes of landing a title opportunity.
“Honestly, I don’t think she could ever make 115 again. And it’s been said multiple times that her family would not support that, and I can understand that, you know. Like, the cut to 115 does not make sense for her. Especially with her new addition.
“But honestly, I’ve moved past it. I’m focused on moving up through the ranks. And when she decides to fight – if she decides to fight, then I’ll still be here and I’m totally down to go and beat her up. Until then, I’m really not worried about it. I don’t care either way. My career will be successful no matter what, if I beat her up or not. That was kind of like a bonus – like, beat her up and prove a point. But that’s it.”
Barber went as far as to say that she believes Modafferi is a “way better” fighter than VanZant.
“Roxanne is way better of a fighter than Paige VanZant. And there’s a lot of women out there who are a tougher fight. Paige VanZant just did the marketing well, and that was because the UFC got behind her on that.
“But like I’ve said multiple times, she didn’t hold up her end of the deal and she didn’t’ continue to progress as a fighter, she just continued to progress on the more marketing and media side of that. So, yeah, there’s a lot more girls that had been working there their butts off a lot more than Paige has.”
What do you think about Barber’s comments, comparing Modafferi to VanZant?
A women’s flyweight bout between Maycee Barber and Roxanne Modafferi is in the works for UFC 246. That’s according to MMA Junkie stating that it has been verbally agreed for the pay-per-view event set to take place in Las Vegas on January 18 Barber is undefeated in the UFC with three wins and is coming […]
A women’s flyweight bout between Maycee Barber and Roxanne Modafferi is in the works for UFC 246.
That’s according to MMA Junkie stating that it has been verbally agreed for the pay-per-view event set to take place in Las Vegas on January 18
Barber is undefeated in the UFC with three wins and is coming off an impressive TKO finish over Gillian Robertson. She would later call for a fight with Paige VanZant only for the latter to not reciprocate the interest.
Instead, “The Future” will get a chance at a 39-fight veteran in Modafferi. “The Happy Warrior” is coming off a decision defeat to Jennifer Maia in July and has alternated between wins and losses since the end of 2017. However, she will provide a tough test for Barber, having already inflicted a first career defeat on another prospect in Antonina Shevchenko earlier this year.
The latest lineup for UFC 246 now includes:
Drew Dober vs. Nasrat Haqparast
Grant Dawson vs. Chas Skelly
Maycee Barber vs. Roxanne Modafferi
Although not confirmed, Conor McGregor has stated that he will be returning on this card. His likely opponent is Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.
What do you think of this fight? Do you think Barber will make it 4-0 with the UFC or will Modafferi prove too experienced?
Maycee Barber’s rise up the flyweight rankings will continue on Jan. 18 at UFC 246 as she will take on Roxanne Modafferi. MMA Junkie was first to report the news. MMA News has since confirmed the matchup is verbally agreed to. Barber has made it …
Maycee Barber’s rise up the flyweight rankings will continue on Jan. 18 at UFC 246 as she will take on Roxanne Modafferi. MMA Junkie was first to report the news. MMA News has since confirmed the matchup is verbally agreed to. Barber has made it known she wants to become the youngest champion in UFC […]