Tag: Maycee Barber

Rose Namajunas interested in winner of Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot or Maycee Barber

Rose Namajunas lays out her potential next step, following her win over Amanda Ribas at UFC on ESPN 53.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag] has her eyes on the UFC women’s flyweight title, but she knows work needs to be done first.

Namajunas (12-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC), a former women’s strawweight champion, picked up her first win at 125 pounds Saturday against Amanda Ribas (12-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in the main event of UFC on ESPN 53. Namajunas defeated Ribas by unanimous decision in her second fight at flyweight. She lost her divisional debut this past September to [autotag]Manon Fiorot[/autotag].

Now with a win on her resume, Namajunas aims for a top contender so she can get closer to the belt.

“I’ll be watching that Manon and [autotag]Erin Blanchfield[/autotag] (fight),” Namajunas said in the cage after her win. “I wanted to fight either one of those for this fight, but I lost to Manon, so if I can get a rematch with her if she wins, or even Maycee (Barber), I know she looked incredible, as well. (I’ll fight) either one of those girls.”

Blanchfield, Fiorot, and Barber currently are considered the top contenders in the women’s flyweight division. Namajunas has no problem taking any one of those next since she said she would rather earn her title shot instead of using her star power to try to campaign for an opportunity at the belt.

“I was happy to instead of being the champ and just jumping straight into a superfight – champ vs. champ – I do think it’s kind of cool to just work your way up and do it that way,” Namajunas said at the UFC on ESPN 53 post-fight press conference. “I think becoming a champ this way would be way more impressive. But at the same time, if they want to give me (a title shot), I’ll take it.”

Namajunas plans to make flyweight her new home, and doubts she’ll return to 115 pounds in the future. She’s feeling more comfortable and settled in her new weight class.

“I felt actually pretty good,” Namajunas said. “There are some things to work on. I think that I wasn’t as quick or as snappy as I wanted to be, but my arms are a little bigger and I also could feel my strength was great. I know everybody thinks that I’m small or weak, so it’s good to get better at the grappling aspect of things.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 53.

Maycee Barber wants Alexa Grasso rematch, would take backup role for next UFC flyweight title fight

Maycee Barber wants to run it back with UFC flyweight champ Alexa Grasso, and will prepare for a backup role in the next title fight.

MIAMI – [autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag] wants another crack at Alexa Grasso, and is willing to be a backup fighter for her next title fight.

With a strong unanimous decision win over Katlyn Cerminara at UFC 299, Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) extended her current winning streak to six. It was a performance in which she achieved her goal of “bullying” the former title challenger, and now she wants to revisit a 2021 matchup against the current champion.

Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) was recently announced as a coach opposite Valentina Shevchenko in the upcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which likely means a trilogy bout between the pair is on the horizon. Barber is willing to take on a backup role for that fight if it means getting her hands on Grasso again.

“Given that it was announced that they’re going to be having the trilogy most likely, I definitely want to be the backup for that fight,” Barber told reporters at a post-fight news conference. “I want my rematch, and I think I’m the perfect person for it. There’s a lot of other girls in the division that have some skill, but they’re boring fighters. I’m not a boring fighter, and I know that would be the main event and that would be a title fight for sure, and it would be a great one.

“There’s a big story behind that too. The rematch with Alexa Grasso would be huge. I don’t know if I necessarily would wait. That’s something I have to talk to Dana (White), Mick (Maynard), Hunter (Campbell) and everyone about. We’ll be figuring that out soon.”

Barber, 25, suffered her last setback against Grasso at UFC 258 by unanimous decision, which was the second of back-to-back losses. Since then, “The Future” has been on a tear, winning six consecutive fights, including wins over two former title challengers in Cerminara and Jessica Eye.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

UFC 299 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Sean O’Malley’s $42,000 tops card

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 299 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $359,000.

MIAMI – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 299 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $359,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 299 took place at Kaseya Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

The full UFC 299 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Benoit Saint-Denis[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Michael Page[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag]: $21,000;

[autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Jailton Almeida[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Katlyn Cerminara[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Kyler Phillips[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Philipe Lins[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Robelis Despaigne[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Josh Parisian[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Asu Almabaev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]CJ Vergara[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Joanne Wood[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Maryna Moroz[/autotag]: $11,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,362,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $24,069,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

UFC 299 results: Maycee Barber extends winning streak to six with decision over Katlyn Cerminara

Maycee Barber is on a roll at 125 pounds.

[autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag] is on a roll at 125 pounds.

On the prelims of UFC 299 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) defeated former title challenger Katlyn Cerminara (18-6 MMA, 11-6 UFC) by unanimous decision in their flyweight bout, notching her sixth straight win.

In Round 1, Barber came out throwing heavy punches, forcing Cerminara to clinch. Cerminara landed a brief takedown, but Barber immediately popped back up. Cerminara shot for a takedown, but Barber made her pay by sprawling and landing some big punches. They clinched against the cage again, as Cerminara worked for a takedown. Barber landed a big left hook on the break, but they went back to the clinch to end the round.

Barber pressed forward to kick off Round 2. Cerminara landed a nice kick up the middle, followed by a counter right. Cerminara started to outland Barber, mixing things up to the body. Barber clinched and pressed Cerminara to the cage. She was able to land a brief takedown, but Cerminara worked her way up. Both fighters continued reversing positions in the clinch, until Barber closed out the round with another takedown.

Barber got over aggressive to start Round 3, as Cerminara capitalized with a takedown. Both fighters clinched again, but Barber landed a big right on the exit, followed by a combination. The fight continued in the clinch. Barber got Cerminara down, but Cerminara used a leg lock attempt to get back up. They closed out the fight with some dirty boxing as Barber outworked Cerminara for the decision win.

With the win, Barber tied Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot for the longest active winning streak in the women’s flyweight division.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 299 results include:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

Maycee Barber def. Katlyn Cerminara at UFC 299: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Maycee Barber’s unanimous decision win over Katlyn Cerminara at UFC 299.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag]’s unanimous decision win over [autotag]Katlyn Cerminara[/autotag] at UFC 299 at Kaseya Center in Miami. (Fight and venue photos by Sam Navarro, USA Today Sports)

Maycee Barber plans to finish Katlyn Cerminara at UFC 299, rematch Alexa Grasso

Maycee Barber is still eager to run things back with UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso.

MIAMI – [autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag] is still eager to run things back with UFC flyweight champion [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag].

Barber (13-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) meets [autotag]Katlyn Cerminara[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) Saturday at UFC 299 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) from Kaseya Center in Miami.

Currently riding a five-fight winning streak, including a TKO of Amanda Ribas in June, Barber hopes a finish of Cerminara earns her a title shot against Grasso, who’s the most recent woman to beat her.

“Obviously, Alexa still has the belt, so it would be a title eliminator and getting a title shot,” Barber told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday.

“When I finish Katlyn the gatekeeper, for me, that really sets me up. It’s like, ‘All right, fine – she dominantly finished Katlyn, now it’s time to give her a shot.’ And I’m still coming for my rematch.”

Grasso is linked to a rubber match against Valentina Shevchenko. If the UFC does decide to go that direction, Barber doesn’t mind being the reserve for their title fight,

“Even if they do have their trilogy, if they’re scheduled to fight, I’d like to be the backup fighter. That would be great, or whatever we can make work,” Barber said. “There’s injuries, there’s things that pop up, so I’ll be ready.”

Barber is not impressed with Cerminara’s resume. All 11 of former title challenger Cerminara’s octagon wins have come by decision, and Barber plans on bringing the fight to her.

“More of what I look at is they’re decision wins,” Barber said. “They’re not finishes, they’re not dominant, they’re just decision wins. She’s doing enough to win a decision.

“All the girls that she’s fought that have gone for a finish, specifically (Jessica) Andrade, she got finished. That’s what we plan to do. We’re going to go out there and finish her. I’m not going out there to point fight with her. I’m going out there to finish her.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

UFC 299 pre-event facts: Inside the numbers of stacked Miami lineup

The best facts and figures about UFC 299, which features an absolutely stacked lineup with history on the line for multiple fighters.

The final event in the 200s-era of numbered UFC cards goes down Saturday at UFC 299, and the event from Kaseya Center (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) is one of the most stacked in recent memory.

A lineup filled with a plethora of former title challengers, top-ranked contenders and more, is headline by a bantamweight title rematch. Reigning champ [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) will attempt to make his first defense while simultaneously trying to avenge his only career loss against [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] (21-8-1 MMA, 15-7 UFC), who won the first matchup by first-round TKO at UFC 252 in August 2020.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts for UFC 299.

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Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera

Matchup Roundup: New UFC fights announced in the past week (Dec. 4-10)

All the UFC fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Dec. 4-10.

UFC 299 adds Maycee Barber vs. Katlyn Chookagian

Maycee Barber vs. Katlyn Chookagian will take place at UFC 299 in a women’s flyweight contender fight.

UFC 299 continues to fill, this time with the addition of a women’s flyweight fight.

Contenders [autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag] and [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] will collide at the March 9 pay-per-view event. While no location is official, Miami is the frontrunner for the event.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Mania first reported the bout.

Barber (13-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) looks to extend her current winning streak to six. The stretch of success has solidified her as a top contender in the division with wins over Amanda Ribas, Jennifer Maia, and Viviane Araujo, among others. This will be Barber’s first fight post-foot surgery.

Chookagian (18-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) has remained a stalwart member of the top of the flyweight division since it’s conception in 2018. She hasn’t competed since October 2022 when her four-fight winning streak was snapped by Manon Fiorot.

With the addition, the UFC 299 lineup includes

  • Champion Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera
  • Maycee Barber vs. Katlyn Chookagian
  • Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips
  • Asu Almabayev vs. CJ Vergara

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

Maycee Barber wants Jessica Andrade or Lauren Murphy next: ‘I love the exciting fights’

Maycee Barber is interested in facing Jessica Andrade or Lauren Murphy next.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag] has some names in mind for her next UFC outing.

Fresh of arguably her best career win, “The Future” is looking to take a step in competition and fight someone who’s reached championship level in the UFC. Barber (13-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) would like to face former UFC strawweight champion Jessica Andrade or ex-title challenger Lauren Murphy.

“We have several names in mind, and it will be interesting to see,” Barber told MMA Junkie Radio. “I like the Lauren Murphy fight, she’s ranked one above me. I like the idea of fighting Jessica Andrade. I like the idea of those kind of fights. They’re right there in the rankings. It really just depends on what the UFC thinks and what we want to do together. We’ll figure it out.”

Barber listed October or November as ideal months for a return to the cage. Of course, she is coming off a war against veteran Amanda Ribas in the co-main event of UFC on ABC 5, which took place last month in Jacksonville, Fla.

It was a wild fight that ended in a vicious stoppage for Barber. She even took home an extra $50,000 in a Performance of the Night bonus.

“I love the exciting fights,” Barber said recalling her win. “If it’s a war, if it’s a brawl, I love that because it keeps the fans engaged, and you don’t get to see females do that very often. You don’t get to see that kind of fight. So I’m very honored and excited that I can bring that to the table to myself and my career, and the UFC.”

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