Josh Barnett To Retire Soon

[No More Sorrow]

Josh Barnett (32-6) hasn't spoken to the UFC about coming back and is currently weighing the free agent market. Wherever Barnett ends up, he looks to end his career there according to his manager Leland Labarre."We have not entered into negotiations with any company," said Labarre to MMA Junkie. "We know the fans would love for Josh to fight in the UFC, and Josh would love to fight in the UFC, if that's the way things work out."


Barnett took on both the flu and Nandor Guelmino (11-4) at the final Strikeforce event. It took Barnett just over two minutes in the opening round to lock in the arm triangle choke for another submission win. All of his three Strikeforce victories have come by submission. He went 3-1 for the promotion with his only loss coming to Daniel Cormier (11-0) in the Grand Prix Finals.


"We want to find something that's hopefully going to be his last contract and find a permanent home," said Labarre.


The now 35-year-old heavyweight competed for the UFC last in 2002, when he won their heavyweight championship. He was stripped of the title after testing positive for a banned substance post-fight. Following his release, Barnett competed around the globe including appearances for PRIDE, DREAM and Affliction.


Barnett had mentioned before his final Strikeforce appearance that he was open to a UFC return.

I'm hoping he ends up in the UFC, I don't think he'd make a run at the title or anything but there's a few interesting fights that he could be placed in before retiring.

 

[Deezy]

Re: Josh Barnett Looking To Retire Soon

Barnett burned his bridge with UFC, he should've realized alot sooner that company was going to be the only game in town one day.

I didn't realize he was 35, I thought he was alot older than that, seeing as he has been around for what seems like forever.

 

[The Cork]

Still has a lot of value IMO, theres money matches with the likes of Mir, a Nog rematch, even jobbers like Struve.

Would be disappointing to see him end up in a Bellator or KOTC, if he's going free agent just make the Fedor fight.....I'd still buy it, as long as he didnt kill another company by juicing.

 

[Deezy]

I did hear a good scenario for Barnett, I heard a suggestion that he should go to Bellator and get the King Mo deal.

He would fit that deal a hell of a lot better too, he already has pro-wrestling experience, and he would be pretty much guaranteed that Bellator HW title, so he could go back and forth from TNA to Bellator and make some good money at that.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Barnett's profile was added to UFC.com earlier today no word yet on if he's signed a deal with them yet.

 

[Troy]

Interesting idea with Barnett going to Bellator and working TNA as well, he would be a much better choice than King Mo because he has worked for wrestling companies quite a few times over the years. I would like to see him at least coming back for one UFC fight just to see him in UFC again. They can easily find him three fights in UFC and make some money out of him if they did want to bring him in

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

Re: Josh Barnett Looking To Retire Soon

Barnett burned his bridge with UFC, he should've realized alot sooner that company was going to be the only game in town one day.

I didn't realize he was 35, I thought he was alot older than that, seeing as he has been around for what seems like forever.

Too be fair when he got popped for roids in the UFC, the UFC was struggling big time, with plenty of Japanese orgs popping upand Pride getting 90% of the top fighters in the world while the UFC had all of 3-4 guys that people cared about. He's hardly burned any bridges anyway, he got done for roids, that's basically a right of passage in MMA. Just look at all the guys that have been popped for roids or have a dodgy doctors note in the UFC right now.

 

[Deezy]

Re: Josh Barnett Looking To Retire Soon

Too be fair when he got popped for roids in the UFC, the UFC was struggling big time, with plenty of Japanese orgs popping upand Pride getting 90% of the top fighters in the world while the UFC had all of 3-4 guys that people cared about. He's hardly burned any bridges anyway, he got done for roids, that's basically a right of passage in MMA. Just look at all the guys that have been popped for roids or have a dodgy doctors note in the UFC right now.

It was more to do with all the shit talk he threw at Zuffa and their business practices, which was funny, considering he worked for Pride and M1-Global.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Watched an interview with Dana White from today and he said they haven't offered a contract to Barnett yet, but are likely to go into negotiations with him sometime after the UFC show this weekend.