UFC Fight Night: Alexa Grasso vs Maycee Barber Preview & Prediction
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A flyweight rematch five year in the making, as former champion Alexa Grasso looks to go 2-0 against surging contender Maycee Barber.
Alexa Grasso vs Maycee Barber facts
What time are Alexa Grasso and Maycee Barber expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer? Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 270
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer main card
Israel Adesanya vs Joe Pyfer (Middleweight)
Alexa Grasso vs Maycee Barber (Women’s Flyweight)
Michael Chiesa vs Niko Price (Welterweight)
Julian Erosa vs Lerryan Douglas (Featherweight)
Mansur Abdul Malik vs Yousri Belgaroui (Middleweight)
Terrance McKinney vs Kyle Nelson (Lightweight)
UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer prelims
Ignacio Bahamondes vs Tofiq Musayev (Lightweight)
Chase Hooper vs Lance Gibson Jr (Lightweight)
Marcin Tybura vs Tyrell Fortune (Heavyweight)
Casey ONeill vs Gabriella Fernandes (Women’s Flyweight)
Navajo Stirling vs Bruno Lopes (Light Heavyweight)
Ricky Simon vs Adrian Yanez (Bantamweight)
Alexia Thainara vs Bruna Brasil (Women’s Strawweight)
Alexa Grasso: Former Champion searching for the form that once dethroned a dynasty
Alexa Grasso (16-5-1) had one of the most remarkable runs in women's flyweight history, submitting Valentina Shevchenko to claim the title before the pair fought to a controversial draw in their rematch, only for the Mexican to drop the belt in the trilogy. Grasso has lost to Natalia Silva since, in a decision that exposed her most persistent flaw - an inability to close down the cage effectively. Grasso follows opponents rather than cutting off angles, and when she does get fighters cornered she tends to headhunt with wild swings. Her striking volume is low and she's been taken down and controlled for long stretches in recent outings.
Maycee Barber: The hungrier, more physical version of herself is ready for gold
Maycee "The Future" Barber (15-2) has been on a steady ascent since their first meeting, working her way to the top of the flyweight division on the back of wins over Karine Silva, Amanda Ribas, and Katlyn Cerminara. The 27-year-old has shown to be a more complete fighter in almost every department right now - carrying more volume, physicality, and a more varied striking arsenal that mixes jabs to set up kicks to all levels with sharp elbows and trips in the clinch. Barber can box out of both stances, making her combinations fluid regardless of her alignment, and her ground-and-pound has shown genuine authority when she gets opponents down.
Alexa Grasso vs Maycee Barber prediction
Grasso won the first meeting, but that was five years ago and both fighters are in very different places now. The version of Grasso that submitted Shevchenko feels like a distant memory - she's been outmanoeuvred and controlled in her recent fights, and Barber is exactly the kind of physical, laterally mobile fighter that gives her the most trouble.
The cage-cutting issue is a problem for Grasso. She doesn't throw with enough purpose to pin Barber down, and Barber's constant direction switches will make it even harder to pin her down. If Grasso does get her cornered, she tends to headhunt with a predictable rhythm of shots rather than working the body to open things up. That being said, I expect Barber to be the one on the hunt, especially being a fighter that dictates the pace and puts on the pressure.
Grasso's submission game gives her a route back into any round on the ground, and a well-timed takedown of her own is a genuine possibility - but Barber has shown decent enough grappling instincts to avoid being held down for too long. Another factor is that Grasso's recent losses are only to the best competition, and Barber may not be ready for this challenge at the top of the division. Grasso could play this smart, time takedowns on Barber's entry in the second half of the rounds with her top level experience, threaten submissions whilst mixing in the ground-and-pound and grind her way to a victory. Even though I lean towards Maycee Barber, the more likely outcome is a decision.
Prediction: Fight to go the distance
