At just 20 years old, Maycee Barber has a goal of becoming the youngest world champion in UFC history, a record that currently belongs to Jon Jones (23 years, eight months at the time). On Saturday night, she moved one step closer to achieving that record by knocking out JJ Aldrich.
Facing her toughest opponent yet since joining the UFC, Barber looked shaky in the first round. She was dropped to the canvas early in the first on a powerful strike by Aldrich but managed to make it to her feet again with little damage.
Aldrich kept up the pressure all through the first round, connecting with multiple strikes and sending Barber to the mat once more before the round ended.
It was a tale of two rounds for Barber though. Adjusting her strategy, she came out in the second with increased intensity and aggressiveness. While she still absorbed some blows, it was a much more back-and-forth affair.
Building confidence through the round, Barber turned the tables and became the aggressor. She landed a hard elbow during a clinch followed by a right hand that staggered Aldrich. She landed several more unanswered strikes that left Aldrich, looking for a clinch, against the cage clutching her face before referee Keith Peterson stepped in.
Here's the impressive finish from Barber.
It may have been a sloppy beginning for Barber but she finished strong. In her post-fight interview, she acknowledged that she needs to improve but made no apologies for her "brawler" style.
With the win, Maycee "The Future" Barber is now 2-0 in the UFC and 7-0 as a pro. After earning a contract on Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series, she defeated Hannah Cifers in a strawweight bout at UFC Fight Night 139 in November. Her fight against Aldrich was her first as a flyweight.