UFC main event cancelled just moments before the first bell as fighter is rushed to hospital
A UFC main event was cancelled just minutes before it was scheduled to take place on Saturday night.
The world's largest MMA promotion hosted a UFC on ESPN card from the promotion's Apex hub.
The main event was set to see women's flyweight prospects Maycee Barber and Erin Blanchfield do battle over five rounds with the winner expected to stake their claim for a title shot.
However, after the pre-fight promotional video was broadcast to viewers at home the commentators announced that Barber was 'not ready' to make the walk to the Octagon, before subsequently revealing that the fight had been cancelled.
Blanchfield later claimed that Barber had suffered a seizure minutes before the fight was set to take place, with reports suggesting she had been taken to hospital.
'Hunter [Campbell - UFC executive] came in and was saying that she was having a seizure and having medical issues and that she's not going to be able to fight,' Blanchfield said.
'I knew once I saw him that it wasn't something good, because he was being serious.'
'I'm just in a little bit of disbelief. We were already told six minutes until workouts, I had already warmed up and hit pads. I was literally ready to go - then we got the news.'
The fight had been set to mark Barber's return to action, more than a year since she had extended her win streak to six by defeating Katlyn Cerminara at UFC 299.
Since then however, the 14-2 star had been dealing with ongoing health issues that had delayed her comeback.
On Friday, the 27-year-old missed weight for the flyweight contest, tipping the scales at 126.5lbs, half a pound over the non-title limit for the weight class.
Prior to the ultimately cancelled return, UFC commentator Laura Sanko commented on Barber's recent struggles.
'I can't emphasise how much she's been battling with her health this last year,' she said.
'We don't know what happened, but clearly it was something serious enough where she's not cleared.'
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