After health scare, UFC's Maycee Barber provides positive update on return

Maycee Barber is hoping to make her return to the UFC in the first half of 2025.

Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) was scheduled to headline her first UFC event against former champion Rose Namajunas this past July in Denver, but she pulled out less than three weeks out due to health complications.

Barber later revealed that she was plagued with Epstein-barr virus, which left her severely physically compromised and unable to train to full capacity. She now looks to put all that behind her and jump into another training camp soon.

“Everything’s going great now,” Barber said on “Morning Kombat.” “It has been a long journey. I was so bummed when – well, first of all, I was so excited to fight Rose because not only was I fighting Rose, but I was also fighting in Denver where I made my UFC debut. So for me, it was my first main event.

“It was a very huge opportunity for me, and I was so excited and then I was devastated when I was told, ‘Hey look, you’re not going to fight on this card.’ Obviously the health is more important. So I was very devastated, but I have made a lot of progress coming forward, and I can’t wait to be back.”

The flyweight contender, who has won six in a row, is aiming to compete again by early next year. Barber’s winning streak includes a TKO finish of Amanda Ribas and, most recently, a unanimous decision over former title challenger Katlyn Cerminara at UFC 299 in March.

“Yeah, actually I was just messaging with Mick (Maynard), and Hunter (Campbell) called me, as well,” Barber said. “I’m hoping for April, honestly. I mean, I know it still is a little ways out, but for me, that’s the timeline that I was given and so originally, I thought I was going to be until July, August of next year, but it’s looking more like April.”