Josh Barnett Signs With UFC

[No More Sorrow]

Heavyweight Josh Barnett (32-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is an Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor once more.

USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps*–*MMAjunkie.com) today confirmed with promotion officials that former UFC heavyweight champion Barnett has signed a new multi-fight deal with the promotion and is expected to make his return to the octagon later this year. An official announcement is expected soon.


Barnett is currently ranked No. 6 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com rankings and was considered the world's most-talented free-agent heavyweight. His return date and opponent have yet to be determined.


Barnett has been fighting professionally since 1997 and made his promotional debut in 2000 with a TKO victory over Gan McGee at UFC 28. He would suffer a knockout loss to Pedro Rizzo in his next appearance before rattling off victories over Semmy Schilt, Bobby Hoffman and UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture. The win over Couture scored Barnett the UFC's heavyweight title, though he was later stripped of the belt in 2002 after failing the evening's post-fight drug test.


Barnett spent much of the next six years fighting in Japan, where in 2006 he made it to the finals of that year's PRIDE open weight grand prix before losing to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic.


In 2008, Barnett returned to the U.S., where he earned victories over Gilbert Yvel in Rizzo under the Affliction banner before that promotion folded up shop. He would later sign with Strikeforce, where he advanced to the promotion's heavyweight grand prix final before falling short against undefeated contender Daniel Cormier. Barnett bounced back with a January win over Nandor Guelmino in Strikeforce's final event.


Earlier this year, Barnett and the UFC appeared close to signing a deal, but the talks stagnated and talks briefly dissolved. However, the two parties have now reached an agreement, and "The Warmaster" is now set for an octagon return.

Pretty awesome news here, talk around the net is that he and Frank Mir are likely to fight sometime this summer.

 

[The Cork]

Yah, great news.

Shame it came too late for him to be slotted in against JDS.

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

Good news, looking forward to seeing the Warmaster tearing limbs apart. Plenty of good fights available as well. Rubber match with Big Nog sounds good.

 

[Troy]

Finally. I wasn't sure what would happen with Barnett after Zuffa bought and then closed Strikeforce because of his past history with the company but it is great that he has actually been signed. Can't believe that he is finally back after over a decade of being away. Creates plenty of good matchups in the HW division.