Mixed martial arts fighters rely on referees to ensure safety and fairness inside the cage. For Maycee Barber, known as “The Future” in the UFC flyweight division, one official has raised concerns.
After her bout at UFC 323, Barber stated that she does not want Mark Smith officiating her fights, citing personal safety and fairness.
“I was told several times this is a great ref, and from my perspective now, I’m like, I don’t want him reffing my fights at all,” Barber told MMA Fighting. “I don’t feel safe in there with him anymore. I don’t feel like he’s a very fair ref.”
The controversy stemmed from an illegal upkick by Karine Silva, which Smith considered minor. Barber disagreed with that judgment, prompting her current stance.
Fighter Perspective: Risk and Responsibility
Barber emphasized the difference between a referee’s job and a fighter’s risk:
“People have bad days, so I try not to be too harsh, but at the same time, that’s my job. My job is on the line,” she said. “He can have a bad day at work and still get paid regardless. We’re the ones risking our careers.”
Maycee Barber reacts to referee Mark Smith claiming she faked being hurt from illegal kick at #UFC 323. 👀
‘I don’t want him reffing my fights at all.’
(Via @DamonMartin) pic.twitter.com/KTBrfP1s1w
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) January 6, 2026
Referee Experience
Mark Smith has officiated a wide range of UFC fights, including:
- Brandon Moreno vs. Tatsuro Taira
- Gabriel Bonfim vs. Randy Brown
- Waldo Cortes Acosta vs. Ante Delija
- Brad Tavares vs. Bruno Silva
- Sean Sharaf vs. Justin Tafa
- Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov
- Uriah Hall vs. Paulo Costa
- Steve Garcia vs. Kyle Nelson
These bouts demonstrate the variety of situations Smith has handled, from stoppages to foul enforcement.
Whether Smith will oversee any of Barber’s future fights remains unclear. For now, she has made her position known, emphasizing that fighter safety is non-negotiable.
