As soon as touted to turn into the youngest champion in Final Combating Championship (UFC), Maycee Barber’s stint within the MMA firm has not gone as per plans. Harm performed a significant position in stopping it however the American made a profitable return final week (March 26) after recovering from a ‘partially torn rotator cuff’ and secured a break up choice win towards Andrea Lee.
“I really got here out with {a partially} torn, rotator cuff. So I had like a couple of weeks the place I couldn’t prepare with my proper arm. I needed to heal up little bit and I am again,” Barber instructed hindustantimes.com in an unique interview.
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It was Barber’s first battle of the 12 months however her focus stays on the present Ladies’s flyweight division champion Alexa Grasso. Barber was humbled by the present champion again in February 2021 and he or she now seems to be to settle the rating every time given an opportunity.
Beginning the battle on a gradual word, Barber then misplaced the primary two rounds however showcased her good preventing intuition within the closing spherical.
“I might like to battle her again whether or not she has the title or not. I positively wish to battle her once more. I really feel like that battle was one which I am not probably the most happy with. However on the similar time she’s such an excellent fighter that I positively need that battle again. And I am gonna get it and I am excited for that,” mentioned Barber.
It has not been very lengthy since Grasso has held the belt within the flyweight division. Squaring off towards Valentina Shevchenko earlier this month, Grasso compelled the previous champ to faucet and snatched the title from her.
Grasso’s achievement makes Barber proud, who additionally known as the previous because the “most underrated” fighter within the flyweight class. She was additionally assured that both Grasso or Brazilian MMA fighter Taila Santos had the potential to dethrone Shevchenko.
“I feel that she (Grasso) earned it, she deserves it and I am glad for her. She works actually arduous and I really feel like she was one of the crucial underrated within the division in my view. As a result of I’ve at all times thought that she was in all probability among the finest within the division. And that was even earlier than she was even difficult for the title.
“I believed for positive that if somebody was to win the title towards Valentina, the highest two those who I believed was after watching Taila Santos after which Alexa Grasso. These two have been those that I noticed that might dethrone Valentina and Alexa was capable of do it. So I feel that is superb that she was capable of obtain her objectives and as a feminine athlete I fully help that. I feel that is unbelievable.”
Speaking about her journey, Barber admits that it did not go as per plans however she is proud to see herself ‘nonetheless chasing’ for the belt.
“I positively wished to set the bar excessive. I wish to set my objectives up to now as a result of I really feel prefer it’s actually cool when you may set one thing that nobody can obtain or nobody can attain, or only a few can attain, and I wished to be a kind of folks. Clearly life had different plans for me and and that is okay. However I am thriving and I am nonetheless chasing that title. I am nonetheless solely 24, so there’s a lot for me to have the ability to accomplish.”