MAYCEE BARBER was knocked out cold then choked by Alexa Grasso in a brutal UFC bout last night.
Barber, 27, went into the women’s flyweight contest riding a seven-fight win streak.
Former champion Grasso, however, provided a reminder of the firepower that saw her previously earn UFC gold.
Mid-way through the first round of their co-main event bout, Grasso caught Barber with a vicious left hand.
The punch appeared to knock the American unconscious, with her legs buckling as she fell to the floor.
Wanting to leave nothing to chance, Grasso pounced on her stricken opponent and began to choke her out.
Experienced referee Mike Beltran immediately jumped straight in to stop the contest.
Looking severely spaced out, Barber then grabbed Beltran’s leg, before the ref laid her flat on her back.
She then appeared to be unconscious with her eyes wide open.
Following a relatively muted celebration given the magnitude of her victory, Grasso waited as her opponent was seen to by medics.
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And eventually, the Colorado-native was helped to her feet.
Following her win, Grasso said: “I’m back. Alexa without injuries is different. I’m so happy.
“Of course my striking is always the first weapon, but I was training so hard to get a finish by submission because I trained jiu-jitsu a lot. I wanted the finish.”
Grasso, 32, earned the belt in 2023 with a stunning victory over Valentina Shevchenko.
The pair subsequently drew their rematch six months later, before Shevchenko won the title back in their trilogy bout in September 2024.
Mexican star Grasso lost to Natalia Silva in May 2025, so last night’s triumph over Barber marked an important return to form.
Her victory earned her a $100k (£75k) performance of the night bonus.
Elsewhere on the card, former middleweight king Israel Adesanya was beaten by Joe Pyfer in the main event, the Last Stylebender’s fourth consecutive loss.
While Michael Chiesa defeated Niko Price via first round submission, with both men retiring in the octagon moments later.
