Mexican fighter Alexa Grasso returned strongly by knocking out American Maycee Barber in the first round of the co-main event at UFC Fight Night in Seattle. Referee Mike Beltran stopped the fight at 2:42 after a punch and choke left Barber unconscious for a minute. The win ended Grasso's losing streak and bolstered her title contention in the flyweight division.
Alexa Grasso landed a counter left straight that floored Maycee Barber during an early exchange. The Mexican fighter immediately took her back and locked in a rear-naked choke. Referee Mike Beltran intervened when Barber stopped responding, leaving her motionless for at least a minute as medical staff attended her in the octagon center.
Barber recovered and walked out amid crowd applause. The official result was a KO/TKO at 2:42 of the first round, updating Grasso's record to 17 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw. The Guadalajara native had lost her flyweight title to Valentina Shevchenko in their trilogy and then to Natalia Silva in May 2025.
Maycee Barber entered with seven straight wins since losing to Grasso in February 2021 and held the No. 5 ranking. She had overcome major health setbacks, including a nine-day hospitalization in 2024 for pneumonia, strep, and staph infections, and a 2025 main event cancellation due to pre-fight seizures.
"A healthy fighter is dangerous," Grasso said, as cited by ESPN, about Barber. The Mexican reiterated her goal: "I like to take it step by step, the goal is to be a two-time champion." She also voiced interest in a UFC event in Guadalajara.
