Carli Judice is getting the biggest fight of her career. On Wednesday, the UFC announced that the flyweight up-and-comer would be facing Maycee Bargber at UFC 335 – one of two new bouts added to the card.
It represent a massive upgrade in opposition for Judice, who has not lost since her Octagon debut, with all but one of her four wins coming by TKO. For reference, she currently sits six spots below Barber in the Meta rankings, and she is unranked in the media lists. It also means an excellent chance for her to translate her potential into contendership this early into her MMA career.
To understand how Judice got here, however, it also helps to understand how her career career has gone so far.
Born on March 2, 1999 in Lafayette, Louisiana, “Crispy” initially did not want to become a mixed martial artist. She began her athletic career in softball, joining McNeese’s program in 2018, but lasted just two years before quitting the sport. She then took a job as a food assistant at an Outback steak restaurant, during which she discovered MMA.
After winning her first three fights in the amateurs, Judice turned pro in 2022. She continued her winning ways in violent fashion, knocking out all her three opponents, which led her to an appearance on Dana White’s Contenders Series. There, she fought Ernesta Kareckaite, and despite losing for the first time in her career, was given a contract anyway.
Judice made her Octagon debut against Gabriella Fernandes the following year. She lost again, and a Fight of the Night bonus proved little consolation for her, as she would not fight again for nine months.
When Judice made her return in March 2025, she did so in explosive fashion, knocking out Yuneisy Duben with a head kick and follow-up punches. She followed that with a body knee demolition of Nicolle Caliari in the opening fight of UFC 318, which was held in her home state of Louisiana. Both finishes earned her a Performance of the Night bonus.
2026 so far has been a dominant one for Judice. She began the year with a unanimous decision win over former The Ultimate Fighter winner Julianna Miller in Houston. Six months after that she needed just 99 seconds to end Jeisla Chaves with a body kick and follow-up punches in Sacramento.
That leads back to today. In Barber, Judice faces arguably the sternest test of her young career thus far.
“The Future” was once thought to be a surefire star during the 12 months of her UFC tenure. After all, she had knocked out her first three opponents in the Octagon, including future strawweight challenger Gillian Robertson. Unfortunately, an upset loss to Roxanne Modafferi and concurrent ACL tear derailed her momentum.
A loss to Alexa Grasso in her return raised questions about Barber’s title prospects, but then she reeled off seven straight wins. Though only one of them ended within the distance, and a fight-day withdrawal from a main event against Erin Blanchfield drew much criticism, she seemed to be “back”. That was, until she rematched Grasso this March.
Barber was not just knocked out within the first round – she was also put in a rear-naked choke while already unconscious. That frighteningly violent loss became easily the most humiliating moment of her career, and she will be carrying the stigma from it against Judice. She knows she needs a big-time performance to avoid slipping down the rankings, and luckily for her, she has an often-underappreciated tool that can help her.
Despite being known for her striking prowess, Barber also had a competent ground game, with two of her first three wins coming via submission. That will be key against Judice, who has so far gone largely untested on the ground.
A Judice win will be very beneficial for the UFC as it deals with a star problem at women’s 125.
Current champion Natalia Silva is someone whom the UFC will probably struggle to promote. She is Brazilian, does not speak English, and has a fighting style that can sometimes bore certain fans who want explosive knockouts. Ahead of UFC 332, the brass apparently preferred Cong Wang, given her marketability (more exciting fighting style, being Chinese, and prior history with Valentina Shevchenko). Instead, they have to settle for someone whose defenses may be better served on Fight Nights.
Judice, on the other hand, is basically a marketing dream. She is American and thus speaks perfect English, and she is decently photogenic, though not as inclined to post “thirst-trap” images on Instagram as, say, Mackenzie Dern. She also has a down-to-earth personality that represents a much-needed, well-deserved diversion from all the trash talking that is prevalent in today’s UFC.
On December 12, Judice enters the Octagon against her most experienced opponent yet, looking to graduate from hot prospect to must-watch contender. If she wins, then Dana White may have just found his next megastar…
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