After losing to the future women’s flyweight champ in 2021, UFC Jacksonville’s Maycee Barber continues to chase a rematch with Alexa Grasso.
That’s the fight she’s hoping to land with a win over Amanda Ribas at the Jacksonville card this weekend, a high-profile affair airing on broadcast network ABC in the U.S.
“I think that’s definitely a possibility. I have been chasing that rematch. Obviously that’s something I want back from Alexa Grasso,” Barber (12-2) told media outlets during this week’s UFC Jacksonville media day. “Whether that’s the next fight, or the fight after, because I know that obviously Valentina [Shevchenko] probably wants her belt back, so that has to happen.”
Shevchenko does, in fact, want her belt back. The only woman to ever defend the women’s 125lb title in the UFC did so on seven consecutive occasions, a record for title defenses in a single weight class among women. A rematch between “Bullet” and Grasso is booked for September, but Barber said Wednesday that she wants a chance to avenge the loss regardless of title implications.
“Whether Alexa has the title or not, I still want a rematch with her,” said Barber, adding that she planned on extending her current four-fight win streak. “The five fight win streak means a ton, obviously. No one wants to have a win streak and then go on a losing streak. So I’m planning on continuing the four fight win streak and turning it into a five.”
As far as Grasso’s rematch with Shevchenko, Barber is hyped up for it — though she’s also wary of a third fight should Valentina come out on top.
“For Alexa to continue to win, I think that would be awesome. But at the same time, she’s got a tough fight again with Valentina that isn’t just an easy out. Valentina was the champ for so long for a reason. I think it’s an exciting fight to see the second one. I don’t know if I want to watch the same fight three times, but seeing the rematch would be good for sure.”
Watch the full UFC Jacksonville media day appearance by Maycee Barber above.
