Strikeforce signs Josh Barnett
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/9/13/1685522/josh-barnett-signs-with-strikeforce
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/9/13/1685522/josh-barnett-signs-with-strikeforce
Two-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."
Does anyone still care? Is Fedor/Barnette to late now or will he even stay clean long enough to fight?NEW YORK (Sept. 13, 2010) – Two-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. 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.
lmas, Top 5 in the UFC HW division is a joke, without Cain and JDS that division is seriously nothing, SF HW division is way more stacked with top level fighters. both Cain and JDS would have struggle more rising to the top of the current SF division than they have done at the UFC.wow, i think this is very exciting...i would still LOVE to see fedor vs barnett...that would be so awesome, plus id also like to see overeem vs barnett...strikeforce HW division is getting better and better and this will be a nice teste for overeem, lets see if he can actually hang with elite fighters, if he can beat barnett and fedor then thats proof enough that hes ready to be a top 5 in the UFC
since barnett actually signed im guessing that hes clean, he wouldnt be stupid enough to sign just to get caught again...either that or he learned how to cycle:thumb02: