Maycee Barber renews feud with former UFC champion Julianna Pena: “I just don’t think she’s that great”

UFC women’s flyweight contender Maycee Barber wants Julianna Pena at 135 pounds.

‘The Future’ is currently slated to return this Saturday night, at UFC 299. There, Maycee Barber will look to put her stamp on a potential title shot, by defeating Katlyn Chookagain. The women’s flyweight contender has won five in a row entering the contest, last stopping Amanda Ribas in June.

While Maycee Barber could earn a title shot with a win, she’s not sure that’s what she wants next. Earlier this week, the 25-year-old discussed what could be next. If it comes down to a potential title shot or fighting former women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Pena, she’ll choose the latter.

Last summer, the two women’s fighters went back and forth quite a bit. However, given that Julianna Pena is still healing, and also a weight class above Maycee Barber, the idea of a potential fight seemed a bit far. That was until earlier this week, when ‘The Future’ was asked about the bout at UFC 299 media day.

In the scrum, Maycee Barber was asked about Julianna Pena, and potentially facing the former champion up at 135 pounds. There, the women’s flyweight contender stated that she would love to fight ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ next. Furthermore, Barber opined that a bout with Pena would be easier than facing Alexa Grasso.

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Image Credit: @UFC/Instagram

Maycee Barber discusses potential fight with former UFC champion Julianna Pena

“I mean, yeah [I’m interested].” Maycee Barber responded to a question at UFC 299 media day when asked about moving up to potentially fight Julianna Pena. “I think that the 135 division needs excitement, I think a lot of women’s fighting needs excitement and I’m down to be the person that brings that excitement. You know, if I got to fight Julianna Pena, if I got to move up and fight at 135 for a title, like why not?”

She continued, “We need that [excitement]. I think [what’s next] will depend on the timing. If it’s like, they’re both at the same time, we have to think about that one. But I’d take the easier one, which I think is Julianna, then I’d go and fight Alexa. I just don’t think she’s that great of a fighter.”

In the event that Maycee Barber moves up to bantamweight to face Julianna Pena, it’ll be the first 135-pound bout of her career. Since making her MMA debut in 2017, ‘The Future’ has largely competed at 125 pounds.

What do you make of these comments? Do you have any interest in seeing Maycee Barber vs. Julianna Pena?