The Apex has now become the central hub for most of the UFC Fight Nights. The venue was a lifesaver during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving the MMA promotion a location to safely host UFC events. On top of that, it’s one of the most cost-effective venues for Dana White and Co. as well. After all, it cuts out on travel expenses and provides the UFC with better control over production. And now, after the renovation, Apex can hold more audience and entertain the fighting community in a better way. But is it really helpful for the fighters, too?
Well, there was a time when people got bored with the Apex. Jack Hermansson previously said, “I want big arenas, big crowds. Something else. It’s cool to watch fights in the APEX, and it’s kind of cool on TV as well with the sound and everything, you can hear so much. But the experience is nowhere near to be fighting in front of a huge crowd.” However, many others, including Joe Rogan, have stood in favor of the venue. But recently, Maycee Barber came forth with a stronger defense for the venue.
Talking to Ariel Helwani on his YouTube talk show, Barber said, “The messed up side of me enjoys the rawness of the Apex. Like, I enjoy the fact that like, it’s so quiet that you can hear a punch land, you can hear them breathing… It just makes everything so much more intense. And I know that the last time, the last few times I fought in the Apex, I remember that one time, like, I made this girl, one of the girls bleed, and I could smell the blood. And I feel like in the big arenas like, everything is so, there’s just so much going on that you can’t have that same intimacy in the Octagon. So, I have a love-hate relationship with it.”
But wait… Does ‘The Future’ actually like the cage at Apex? Or is it just the venue? To make things clear, the famed MMA reporter asked the flyweight contender about her opinion on smaller cages. But it turned out that she didn’t really mind the size of the cage. All Barber did was follow what her coaches had planned for her. She said, “Whether it’s a big arena, or a big cage, or a smaller one, I can’t change it either way. So, we just learn to adapt and change the way that we need to fight and train for that. And so, that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
“I enjoy the fact that it’s so quiet that you can hear a punch land, you can hear them breathing… It just makes everything so much more intense.
The last few times I fought the Apex… I could smell the blood. I feel like in the big arenas there’s just so much going on that… pic.twitter.com/LlPiciD4TL
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 27, 2025
Needless to say, Barber’s opinion about the Apex has raised some concerns for her next opponent, Erin Blanchfield. The #4 flyweight contender is actually set to fight Barber at UFC Vegas 107. And the venue is indeed the Apex. But do you know that the duo have already begun their fight? Not in reality, but on social media and in interviews.
Maycee Barber and Erin Blanchfield go off against each other prior to their bout
Not too long ago, ‘Cold Blooded’ expressed her concerns regarding her upcoming fight against Barber. According to Blanchfield, ‘The Future’ was a fighter who had pulled out of several fights in the past. Of course, she was talking about her cancelled bout against Barber in 2021. Talking to MMA Fighting, Blanchfield said, “Yeah, a little bit of worry. Because Maycee is someone that has pulled out of fights pretty frequently. She has a history of that. There’s always a worry but that could happen with anyone at the same time.”
No doubt, these words didn’t sit well with Barber. During her time on The Ariel Helwani Show, the #5 flyweight contender weighed in on Blanchfield’s worries. She said, “I did [see the comments], and I think they’re pretty dumb. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to say that she thinks I’m going to pull out of the fight, like I have this history of pulling out of fights. I’ve pulled out of two fights, total, and both were for some pretty serious things… Kind of a weird thing for her to say, I think she’s just trying to figure out what she can say bad about me, because I think she can’t really talk anything bad about my style or my marketability…”
Barber didn’t waste any time in trashing her next opponent. She claimed that Blanchfield’s fighting style was terrible. On top of that, she believed that ‘Cold Blooded’ was a boring fighter. Yes, that was what she said, even though both of their records were similar. For the unversed, ‘The Future’ has amassed 14 wins and lost 2 bouts. And Blanchfield has just one win less. But the one thing that separates the two right now is Barber’s tendency to go for the finish. Nevertheless, we’ll find out the outcome of the bout this Saturday night.
What are your thoughts on Barber’s opinion on the Apex? Do you think she can defeat Blanchfield at the Apex this time? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.
The post “I Could Smell the Blood” – Maycee Barber Leaves No Stones Unturned in UFC Apex Confession appeared first on EssentiallySports.
