Overview
- Barber says she does not feel safe with referee Mark Smith and does not want him assigned to her future bouts.
- During her UFC 323 win over Karine Silva, she was wobbled by an illegal upkick that Smith characterized as a glancing blow.
- Smith did not restore Barber’s ground position or penalize Silva, a decision questioned by the UFC broadcast after replays showed clear impact.
- Barber also cites a late-round timekeeping error that she says allowed a triangle choke sequence that should have been prevented.
- Coverage notes Smith faced multiple officiating controversies in 2025, and there is no public indication of reassignment or discipline in response to Barber’s criticism.