This is the live blog for Alexa Grasso vs. Maycee Barber 2, the flyweight co-main event for Saturday’s UFC Seattle card at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
Grasso and Barber are No. 6 and No. 7 (tied) respectively at 125 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, and Grasso is also No. 11 in the Pound-for-Pound Rankings.
A grueling trilogy with Shevchenko left Grasso (16-5-1) in a strange spot and she fell further back in the contender line after a listless loss to Natalia Silva at UFC 315 this past May. The former flyweight champion holds a win over Barber, having defeated her via unanimous decision back in 2021, and hopes to replicate that success and keep herself in the title conversation.
Barber (15-2) is on a hot streak, having won seven straight fights since that setback to Grasso. Health issues have slowed her rise to the top, but few would argue she deserves a title shot if she has her hand raised Saturday. Once hoping to become the youngest champion in UFC history, “The Future” can still reach the top of the mountain if if it’s a little later than she planned.
Check out the Alexa Grasso vs. Maycee Barber 2 live blog below.
Plenty of drama in this one, with Grasso having to show she’s still in the mix and Barber seeking a measure of revenge. Could this really be the one that propels Barber to a title shot?
Despite being a former champion and having won the first fight, Grasso is the underdog here at +154 on FanDuel. Barber almost a 2-to-1 favorite at -184.
Referee Mike Beltran calling this one.
Good counter from Grasso there as Barber comes forward. You can tell Barber wants to make this one a scrap. Both fighters utilizing leg kicks well. Grasso scores with a quick combo. There’s an exchange, though lots of whiffs. They’re staying right in each other’s faces though, tense vibe. Grasso with another 1-2.
Whoa! Right hand drops Barber, turning her around, and Grasso immediately goes for a choke. Barber completely unconscious, not sure if it was from the choke or the KO shot or both. DAMN.
Scary stuff as Barber takes a while to get up and they keep focusing the camera on her vacant stare. After some time, she’s up, thankfully.
Official result: Alexa Grasso def. Maycee Barber via KO (punch) (R1, 2:42)
Grasso: “Thank you so much everyone that’s here, I hope you enjoyed the fight. Thank you for the love. I’m back. Alexa without injuries is a different Alexa and I’m so happy.”
“Of course my striking is always the first weapon, but I was training so hard to get a finish by submission because I train jiu-jitsu a lot, so I wanted to finish.”
“I know it’s again to climb the mountain and I’m here to do everything the UFC says, but I would truly love to bring UFC to Guadalajara. Noche UFC to my city. That’s my biggest dream, please, please.”
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