Maycee Barber Suffered Full ACL Tear in Loss to Roxanne Modafferi at UFC 246

Big ups to Roxanne Modafferi! She's age 37 with 16 years in the game, yet still improving and humbling vociferous young upstarts like Maycee Barber (knee injury notwithstanding). What an awesome performance, @Roxyfighter. #UFC246 pic.twitter.com/uH3kVnmVlz

— Kyle Johnson (@VonPreux) January 19, 2020

Flyweight prospect Maycee Barber will be sidelined for a significant period of time after tearing the ACL in her left knee.

Bucky Barber, the fighter’s father, confirmed the injury with ESPN. Barber is expected to be sidelined for at least nine months after dropping unanimous decision to Roxanne Modafferi in a preliminary flyweight bout at UFC 246.

"We think she injured it in the first 10 seconds," Bucky Barber said. "She stepped on Roxanne's foot as she backed up and felt a pop. You can see the knee give out on the side. She went back and started fighting and trying to do things and I noticed she was flat in a way I've never seen before.”

Barber was clearly hindered during the bout. The flyweight was examined by a cageside physician before the third round, and the doctor could be overheard during the broadcast telling referee Jason Herzog that Barber had suffered only a partial ACL tear.

Barber was the biggest favorite on the card. The 21-year-old known as “The Future” had kicked off her promotional tenure with three consecutive triumphs prior to UFC 246 and had set a goal of becoming the youngest champion in the history of the Las Vegas-based organization.

Barber released a statement on Instagram reiterating that plan.

“The outcome of this fight may not have happened according to plan but my goal of beating Jon Jones’ record and being the youngest champion in UFC history stays the same,” she wrote.

View this post on Instagram

What a life. Tonight may not have gone my way but there is not a single piece of regret in me. I am so blessed to live the life I have and I thank God everyday for the people in it. Thank you @roxyfighter for sharing the octagon with me tonight. I'd be lying if I said I didn't plan on walking out of there 9-0 but I did what I could and tonight that wasn't enough to get my hand raised. Huge thank you to everyone who supports me and this journey through the ups and downs. I couldn't ask for a better team to have by my side to cheer with me when I win and wipe my tears (and blood) when I lose. I love you all. I'll be back (it might take a few days of healing )...The outcome of this fight may not have happened according to plan but my Goal of beating Jon Jones record and being the youngest champion in UFC history stays the same. XOXO ~Maycee

A post shared by Maycee "The Future" Barber (@mayceebarber) on Jan 18, 2020 at 9:54pm PST