Maycee Barber arrives at UFC on ABC 5 with golden opportunity to reach next level

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – UFC women’s flyweight Maycee Barber may have hit her stride, but now she really has an opportunity to announce herself as a serious contender.

Barber meets Amanda Ribas on Saturday at UFC on ABC 5, with the stage set for her to do something special at a packed VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. With a win, Barber, who’s No. 11 in the official UFC rankings, would push her winning streak to five, and she’d do it in a co-main event spot against No. 9 Ribas in front of a network television audience.

It’s a relatively quick turnaround for Barber, who most recently beat Andrea Lee by split decision on March 25 at UFC on ESPN 43. But she said after talking with UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard, it just made sense for her to get back in there against an opponent ranked above her to hopefully continue her climb.

“I feel great,” Barber told MMA Junkie and other reporters Wednesday at UFC on ABC 5 media day. “… It’s nice to have a quick turnaround and be back here on a co-main event spot.”

Barber, 25, once spoke of becoming the youngest champion in UFC history, but those dreams were dashed when she blew out her knee in a shocking lopsided loss to Roxanne Modafferi in January 2020. That was followed by a unanimous decision defeat to current women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso 13 months later. But since those setbacks, Barber has rebounded nicely with four victories in just under two years.

Perhaps if she does something spectacular Saturday, Barber could be on the short list of candidates for a title shot.

“I think that’s definitely a possibility,” Barber said. “I have been chasing that rematch. Obviously that’s something I want back from Alexa Grasso.”

Barber can’t look past Ribas, though. Since wins in her first four UFC appearances, the 29-year-old Brazilian has alternated results in her past four. She most recently dominated Viviane Araujo to win a lopsided decision and is looking to build on that in hopes, herself, of getting to a title shot.

Ribas, like Barber, moved up from strawweight to flyweight. Barber said she’s considering a move back down, and so is Ribas. The result of Saturday’s fight seemingly could be a crossroads for both women.

“I don’t know. Because I fought at 115, as well. I moved up to 125 for health reasons,” Barber said. “For me, I really enjoyed that move up, but I also feel like this could be the fight where I solidify the idea of going back down to 115. I know that she’s thinking of going back down, and I think this fight will help her make that answer in her mind of what she wants to do.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 5.