The best and worst from UFC Fight Night 148: Thompson vs. Pettis

#3 Best: Barber’s big comeback

Maycee Barber pulled off a classic comeback to take out JJ Aldrich

After a big win over Hannah Cifers in her UFC debut back in November, Maycee Barber garnered a bunch of hype. Just 20 years old, ‘The Future’ looked every bit the big star in the making and talked a good game too, as she stated her aim to become the youngest champion in UFC history. Faced with journeywoman JJ Aldrich last night, she was looking to take another step on the path to that lofty goal.

Aldrich almost stopped her in her tracks. Barber was being pieced up throughout the first round by Aldrich’s cleaner counter-punching style; she was simply leaving herself too open when throwing her own strikes, and it looked like the former TUF contestant – on a 3 fight win streak of her own – was on the way to ending the hype train for the time being.

But then the second round came along and evidently Barber got herself fired up, and where she was leaving herself open to counters in the first, here she began to walk through them to deliver heavier shots of her own. A big left hand had Aldrich rocked and from there Barber poured on the aggression until the fight was done, with Aldrich still standing, simply covering up to avoid any further punishment.

Barber may not reach that goal of hers – she looked very raw last night and would probably lose to the top fighters in the Flyweight division right now – but she’s clearly got heart for days and that should take her very far while she rounds out her skillset. ‘The Future’ appears to be an apt nickname for her.