Maycee Barber Eyes Julianna Peña Fight: “She Isn’t That Great”
At UFC 299 Maycee Barber has a chance to climb up the UFC women’s flyweight rankings with a win against Katlyn Cerminara. If she is victorious, the 25-year-old has eyes on title fights at flyweight and bantamweight.
At UFC 299 Media Day, Barber explained why she would rather challenge for a bantamweight title against Julianna Peña rather than the flyweight title against Alexa Grasso.
“I think that the (bantamweight) division also needs excitement,” Barber said. “I think that a lot of women’s fighting needs excitement and I’m down to be the person that brings that excitement. If I got to fight Juliana Peña, if I got to move up the (bantamweight) for a title shot I’m like, ‘Why not?’ We need that.”
“I think it depends on the timing. If they are both at the same time, we got to think about that one, but I’d take the easier one first which I think is Juliana then I’d go and fight Alexa.”
“I just don’t think she is that great of a fighter,” Barber said when asked why Peña is an easier fight.
Barber is not the first fighter to undercut Peña’s skills. Women’s MMA GOAT Amanda Nunes refused to retire with Peña as a champion because she did not think Peña was very good. Nunes did accomplish that plan and took the belt off Peña.
Barber has been building a fight with Peña through the media for a significant time. Previous, Peña ripped Nunes for retiring at UFC 289. Barber took exception to that and started her own rivalry with the former bantamweight champion.
Barber’s plan to fight Peña for a title is a few steps away. Obviously, Barber needs to earn a title fight. At the same time, Raquel Pennington is the bantamweight champion- not Peña. If Peña’s cannot regain the belt, Barber’s promotional work will be for nothing.
Regardless of how the future pans out, Barber is playing a strong game of promotional chess. The road to get to a flyweight title fight is the longest in women’s MMA. The division is due a trilogy fight between Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko. Plus, Manon Fiorot and Erin Blanchfield are lined up for a number-one contender bout at UFC Atlantic City. Instead of climbing that mountain, Barber is trying to take the shorter route to fight for a title in a weaker division. It is a strong tactic.
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