Former UFC champion Josh Barnett signs with Strikeforce
Strikeforce has announced the signing of former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Josh Barnett. Barnett has signed a multi fight deal with the San Jose, California based promotion. Neither side disclosed the terms of the deal.
Barnett, a native of Seattle Washington had this to say upon his signing, “Strikeforce is the home of the best heavyweight division in the world and I’m proud to be able to call it my home now. I’m looking forward to competing amongst the greatest fighters in the world and fighting my way to another world title.”
Barnett, nicknamed “The Babyfaced Assassin” captured the UFC title with a second round TKO of Randy “The Natural” Couture in early 2002. The 24-year-old Barnett was stripped of the title later in the year after testing positive for anabolic steroids.
After losing the UFC title Barnett spent the next few years fighting in Japan. While overseas he participated in promotions with Pride, Pancrase, and Sengoku. Barnett also did some professional wrestling with the New Japan Pro Wrestling organization.
In August 2009, the 6ft 3in and 255lb Barnett was scheduled to face Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko. At the time, Emelianenko was thought to be the best heavyweight in all of MMA. The fight was promoted by Affliction, who had to cancel the bout when Barnett once again tested positive for steroids. It was a long history with steroids that kept him from being picked up by major organizations for quite some time, despite his status as a top-flight heavyweight.
Fedor is currently fighting with Strikeforce so there is a chance the two could finally meet in the Octagon. A Strikeforce fight between Fedor and Barnett would be a good draw, but the potential fight lost some of its appeal since Fedor’s loss earlier this year to Fabricio Werdum. Fedor tapped out 69 seconds into that battle when Werdum applied a triangle choke as well as an armbar.
In the meantime, the next fight that Barnett will have will be a professional wrestling bout with another former UFC heavyweight champion. Barnett will face Tim Sylvia in Japan on 25 September.
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