Maycee Barber will finally get the opportunity she’s been chasing for years when she meets Alexa Grasso in a rematch at UFC Seattle on Saturday night.
Nearly three years removed from their first bout in 2021, Barber enters the co-main event determined to rewrite the narrative against a familiar rival and prove how far she’s evolved since their initial meeting.
“It’s a fight that I’ve been calling for after every single win. It didn’t really matter when it came it was just something I’ve been calling for years,” Barber told reporters on Wednesday.
“The timing worked out and I’m just very thankful.”
Barber (15-2) knows the level of competition Grasso has faced during her recent run, pointing to the caliber of opponents as a key factor in those losses. At the same time, she expects that stretch to bring out a more dangerous and motivated version of her the former UFC champion on Saturday night.
“She’s always trying to fight the best and those girls are coming out on top. Valentina isn’t a bad fighter. Valentina is a great fighter and they had several back-and-forth fights. Natalia Silva’s also a good fighter, but she just had a different style that I don’t think Grasso was able to get the victory over,” she said.
“I think it’s very frustrating for Grasso. She’s going to be very hungry and I think she’s going to be her best version of herself. I’m ready to face that.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Maycee Barber above. She faces Alexa Grasso at UFC Seattle on Saturday night.
