Official: Josh Barnett signs with Strikeforce
Posted on September 13, 2010, 09:07 AM by Anton GurevichTwo-time champion and top world-ranked heavyweight superstar Josh “The Babyfaced Assassin” Barnett has signed a multi-fight agreement to compete for world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE.
“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,” said the 32-year-old Barnett (29-5), an expert in catch wrestling who hails from Seattle, Wash.
“I’m looking forward to competing amongst the greatest fighters in the world and fighting my way to another world title.”
The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Barnett became the youngest UFC champion in history at age 24 when he scored a second-round TKO (4:35) on MMA legend Randy “The Natural” Couture in Las Vegas, Nev., on March 22, 2002. In his sixth career fight, Barnett submitted wrestling and MMA legend Dan “The Beast” Severn with an armbar in the fourth round (1:21) in Hawaii.
In addition to his achievements in America, Barnett has spent a good portion of his career competing in top tier promotions overseas, including the now defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships in Japan where he notched memorable victories over the likes of Aleksander Emelianenko, Mark Hunt and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. On Oct. 21, 2006, Barnett took part in PRIDE’s first event on U.S. soil, submitting Pawel Nastula with a toe hold in the second round (3:04) at Las Vegas’s Thomas & Mack Center.
In 2008, Barnett competed in another Japanese promotion, Sengoku">Sengoku. After submitting (heel hook) Hidehiko Yoshida in Tokyo on March 5, 2008, Barnett returned to action on May 18, 2008, and earned a unanimous decision over top-ranked rival and fellow American Jeff “The Snowman” Monson.
Barnett signed an agreement to compete in Japan’s DREAM promotion earlier this year. Last March 22, he made his debut with the organization, submitting former K-1 tournament champion and devastating power puncher, “Mighty Mo” Siligia, with a kimura at 4:41 of the first round.
On July 10, Barnett followed up the strong showing with a first-round TKO (punches) over Geronimo dos Santos in the main event of a fight card in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. - Strikeforce Press Release
Big news, ladies and gentlemen. 32-year old Josh Barnett is a serious addition to the Strikeforce Heavyweight roster, especially with the Fedor Emelianenko bout as an option. The Baby Faced Assasin is currently on a six-fight winning streak, losing his last fight to Minotauro Nogueira (Decision) four years ago.
Comments
Fedor vs Barnett?
i know there was a lot of commotion about barnett and steroids, but strikeforce test dont they? so that means he DEFINITELY doesnt do them anymore...i wish him all the best
Fedor vs Barnett
Barnett vs Overeem
Barnett vs Werdum
Barnett vs Big Foot
all are great match ups, I consider him in the top 10 of HW's, can't too see him fight in SF
This is only good news, now we get to see even more matchups from Strikefoce. This gives their HW division even more legitimacy.
the Heavyweight division on Strikeforce seems very solid.
Fedor , Alistair , Big Foot Silva , Werdum , now Barnett , Arlovski , Rogers
i have to say the only thing is missing is a good matchmaker.
They didn't test at Strikeforce: Houston.
Yea, but thats one of the rarer places that did not require drug testing.
The first time Barnett got caught was when he was the Ufc champion, now Carwin, Franca and Sherk both tested postive while they were fighting each other, Tim Silvia...Caro Pariyisan(drugs) I think the UFC is the one that should be testing more.
or that means they do test. wtf? if they didn't test no1 would be caught. by catching people it deters others. from what I've heard the UFC is strict on their testing policies. whether Houston's arena required testing or not Strikeforce should make it mandatory for every event.
UFC doesn't test the athletic commision does, no promotion tests their own fighters...unless it is to prevent controversy ie Strikeforce and Overeem
great signing for Strikeforce
p4p could be a possibility
with werdum injured
and the overeem fight stalled for now
who knows............................
plus he'll still be able to compete in Japan
as strikeforce Co - Promote unlike the UFC
anyways this further strengthens SF's HW division
i think he'll get fedor first, with Werdum out and Overeem in K1
Maybe its unwarranted, but I am a bit concerned that if Fedor fights Barnett it could possibly push back the Overeem-Emelianenko fight indefinitely...
the winner should face overeem. that seems fair.
In the grand scheme of things, yes... But I would like to see the Fedor-Alistair fight regardless.
So is Barnett going to come off his steroid cycle for long enough to actually fight in the states.
Unfortunately Barnett in my opinion is not a top 10 heavyweight and does pose a significant threat to either Emelianenko or Overeem.
Why not? he is a talented fighter, he has got caught for Steroids in the past I get it but I bet you there is lot of people involved in MMA, the only difference is the cycles, this is the smartest move Strike Force could have made. Good for the MMA world overall with more promotion we will get to see more fight and the promotions will be forced to be more competitive against each other....
He is a talented fighter, but hasn't beaten a legitimate heavyweight contender in years. His last quality win in my opinion came in 2006 against Nogueira. Since the Pride days his level of competition has dropped considerably.
Just like for any other Pride HW that didn't go into the UFC, the past few years haven't had the highest quality competition available.
He beat Randy Couture when Randy was in his prime. He is probabally the biggest threat Fedor and Overeem have ever fought.
Barnett is by far the most underrated fighter in MMA.
Where else is he going to go? ROFL
in your mom's bedroom to make her choke
haha!
every one should take a leaf out of jeff monsons book, legalise all drugs, performance enhancing or not then there will be no contriversy :) why should someone old dude in a suit decide whats legal or not .................
That kind of makes sense in a messed up way. It would level the playing field, but only until these guys found the next way to cheat like getting reinforced steel implants in their heads or somthing.
i would order barnett vs fedor is it was on ppv
If you show up dirty for drugs, we shoot you in the head on the spot.
He's gonna make Strikeforce fold too....
I won't mind seeing Overeem VS Barnett but I really want to see Overeem vs Fedor FIRST
Good addition to SF. The division is getting deeper.
Yeah no kidding they are getting good HW that they can actually compete with the UFC roster...
Barnett at this stage of his career is nothing more than a "freak show" performer. I have no idea what SF was thinking.
This is a good pick up for SF. It can lead to the match that a lot of people wanted to see a couple of years ago, so good for them and for some in the mma community.
I'm a huge UFC fan and think they have by far the most athletic, talented, and all around best fighters out there. But I like the organizations like SF and Bellator also. Because before these organizations came up, if a fighter got cut from the UFC, there was no chance in hell you could see them fight unless they got back in the UFC. With SF, if a good fighter gets cut(like Todd Duffee) from the UFC, we still have a chance to get to see them fight for another organization. As long as there are more than 1 promotion, we get to see a lot more fighters, fights, and even more newcomers. As a fighter, it would be nice to know that you could go to more than 1 organization to fight and get some exposure.
If SF gets Duffee, that will be a big jump for their HW division with the addition of him and Barnett. I'd like to see Duffee go ahead and sign and let him fight someone like a Big Foot Silva or someone else in the top 10 in HW in SF. Build him up a little bit, let him get some wins under his belt, then let him get into fighting the top 5 guys. Duffee, IMO, will be one of the best fighters out there in HW in a couple of years as long as he keeps improving his weaknesses.
I could see potential matchups:
Silva vs Rogers
Barnett vs Rogers
Silva vs Barnett
Arlovski vs Barnett
Arlovski vs Rogers
Fedor vs Barnett
Fedor vs Silva
Fedor vs Overeem (the most unticipated)
Overeem vs Werdum
Overeem vs Barnett
Fedor vs Werdum
Werdum vs Barnett
Rogers vs Werdum
i know my opinion will not be popular but if they fought i belive that barrnett would beat overeem and werdum. for the reem i think he could take him down and work him long enough for allistar to gas my guess would be about four minutes. as for werdum he can just keep it standing and beat him up there.
GREAT! Let's see:
Fedor beat Overeem
Barnett beat Antonio Silva
Fedor beat Werdum
Fedor beat Barnett
Barnett beat Overeem
...and then Fedor signs with the UFC and slaps Brock around.
....
Everybody is forgetting about Sergei Kharitonov . He is also with Strikeforce.