UFC in negotiations with Josh Barnett, though deal not finalized

[Kemal]

Former Strikeforce heavyweight Josh Barnett could be heading to the UFC, company president Dana White said.

Barnett (32-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who's first UFC stint and title run ended in 2002 after a failed drug test, is again in negotiations with the organization.

However, a deal hasn't been finalized.

"We're talking to Josh Barnett right now," White said on Tuesday's edition of "UFC Tonight" on FUEL TV. "Yes, we're open to bringing him into the UFC. It's about making a deal now."

Barnett, a Top 10 heavyweight, recently concluded a 3-1 run in Strikeforce, which included a submission victory over overmatched Nandor Guelmino at the organization's final show earlier this month. Barnett is now 9-1 over the past four years.

While Barnett and White have often butted heads in the past, it appears bygones will be bygones. In addition to White's latest comments, Barnett recently hinted at a possible UFC deal in a Facebook post.

"No, I am not in the UFC yet, but I would love to be in the UFC fighting in the Octagon again being back on the mat where I won the heavyweight title 11 years ago," he wrote. "It's the biggest promotion, with the most exposure, and the best heavyweight division. Plus it's abundantly clear – it's where you guys want to see me fighting."

Barnett, who's also competed for organizations such as PRIDE and DREAM during his 16-year career, fought to the final of Strikeforce's ambitious world heavyweight grand prix, where he suffered a decision loss to Daniel Cormier in late 2012. It was his only fight of the year and snapped an eight-fight win streak. The Guelmino victory got him back in the win column.

[Tony Galento]

hoop het, altijd al een favoriet van me geweest.

[Tony]

Absoluut een mooie deal als hij Barnett toch weet te strikken.
Maar ben wel heel benieuwd hoe Barnett zich nog kan meten met de HW mannen van de UFC.

Barnett zal toch ook wel al richting de 39 of 40 gaan, niet?

[Tony]

Hmm, nee pas 35 zie ik net. Dan kan ie nog wel even mee :)

En wat een record ook: 32 op winst vs 6 verloren. En van die 6 verloren zijn er 3 dankzij Crocop. Hoezo Angst-gegner?

[Biiyen]

Ik hoop het, een van mijn favo vechters.

[Turboknecht]

Zou echt een leuke aanvulling zijn op HW.

[kooivechter]

Hmm, nee pas 35 zie ik net. Dan kan ie nog wel even mee :)

En wat een record ook: 32 op winst vs 6 verloren. En van die 6 verloren zijn er 3 dankzij Crocop. Hoezo Angst-gegner?

Verhaal is wel beetje anders. Alle partijen gezien. 1e partij moest Barnett stoppen blessure. 2e partij ging gelijk op, had net zo goed Barnett kunnen zijn. 3e partij was in de GP. Hij had een slopende partij van noguiera gewonnen, daarna gelijk weer. Mooi dat hij naar de Ufc gaat

[smike]

Barnett is een geweldige vechter, ademt die echte "old-scool" sfeer nog uit.
Ik hoop dat we hem in de UFC zien, hij verdient het en hij is zeker top 10 daar.
Wellicht richting top 5.

[Tony Galento]

catchwrestling!

lekker voeten er afdraaien, nogeira kan erover meepraten. :)

[my2cents]

Ik denk dat ie redeljik makkelijk mee kan draaien tegen de toppers en is wat mij betreft zeker top 10. Hopen dat ie overkomt!

[Kemal]

Negotiations between Josh Barnett and UFC hit a sticking point

Josh Barnett (32-6) and UFC parent Zuffa still haven't reached a deal.

The top free agent's rep said the two sides have reached "a sticking point" despite agreeing on guaranteed compensation.

"Once we have an acceptable deal with someone, we will close, sign and hopefully fight within a few months," manager Leland LaBarre today told MMAjunkie.

Sources close to the promotion confirmed that Barnett's offer was still on the table, though talks had recently deteriorated.

Barnett served the obligation of his previous contract with the now-defunct Strikeforce when he submitted Nandor Guelmino at the promotion's final event.

This past month, Barnett indicated that he was considering the idea of signing with the industry-leader due to high demand from fans wanting to see him compete in the octagon.

But the fighter also entertained offers from competing promotions, according to LaBarre.

"We've had a discussion with every major organization you've heard of and some you haven't," he said.

UFC President Dana White recently confirmed ongoing negotiations with Barnett and expressed his openness to sign the fighter despite a contentious past with him. However, sources close to the promotion indicated things were "not looking good" at the moment.

A contract dispute in 2003 saw Barnett leave the promotion on a bad note. He won the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 36 only to be stripped of the belt when he later tested positive for steroids.

Barnett fell short in the finals of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix, losing to Daniel Cormier, but ended his tenure with a record of 4-1 following his win over Guelmino.

[Kemal]

Josh Barnett officially declines UFC contract offer

Josh Barnett may not be coming back to the UFC after all.

According to Barnett's manager Leland LaBarre, Barnett has officially declined the promotion's latest contract offer.

"We agreed on guaranteed compensation," LaBarre said. "In fact, we never even countered. We accepted their original offer.

"However, there are some outlying issues -- one in particular -- that as of this point we were unable to agree on."

Labarre said he didn't feel it was appropriate at this time to discuss which issue both sides couldn't come to terms on.

UFC officials declined to comment on the situation.

Barnett (32-6) last fought in the UFC in March 2002. His latest contract expired following his January win over Nandor Guelmino in Strikeforce.

Last week, UFC president Dana White expressed optimism that the organization would reach a deal with Barnett, who is talking to other promotions.

"We want to find the best deal for Josh and his final MMA home," LaBarre said.

[Turboknecht]

Jammer.

[Diz]

Das mooi kut...
Zou echt vette partijen kunnen draaien in de UFC...

Dat wordt dus Bellator gecombineerd met pro wrestling bij TNA of in Japan...

[basblue]

Das mooi kut...
Zou echt vette partijen kunnen draaien in de UFC...

Dat wordt dus Bellator gecombineerd met pro wrestling bij TNA of in Japan...

Echt heel jammer. Die had in de UFc nog een paar spectaculaire potten kunnen draaien.
En in Bellator... Daar hoort zo' n man toch niet thuis. Laat staan TNA......

[Italian*Berlusconi*]

Das mooi kut...
Zou echt vette partijen kunnen draaien in de UFC...

Dat wordt dus Bellator gecombineerd met pro wrestling bij TNA of in Japan...

Tja, geef hem ongelijk.. als hij daar flink wat cash kan verdienen waarom niet. Prowrestling is zo gek nog niet hoor qua de paychecks. Zelf vind ik het ook jammer, maar hij moet toch aan zijn "toekomst" denken qua cash e.d.

[carlo1]

UFC
Josh Barnett signs multi-fight deal with the UFC, expected to return later this year
May 22, 2013 - 11:30:35 PM

haal dit net van mmatorch, staat op meerdere sites. lijkt er nu toch echt van te komen.

[carlo1]

misschien een leuke pot voor struve, ik zou die partij wel willen zien.

[Kemal]

Former UFC champ Barnett returns to promotion with multi-fight deal

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

USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie 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.

[Diz]

Fuck yeah!!!

Barnett - Nogueira
Barnett - Werdum
Barnett - Struve

Dit is erg goed nieuws! Warmaster hoort ook gewoon thuis in UFC!

[Biiyen]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

Wat een geweldig nieuws!

[Tony Galento]

topvechter!

[cornelus]

Ben benieuwd... grote naam, maar ook niet meer de jongste.

[Turboknecht]

Heel fijn nieuws inderdaad.

[SpelPlan]

Jeuhj! Top dit zeg. Was echt een gemis in de heavy weight division.

Denk niet dat hij nog een serieuze championship run kan maken als ik zie met wat voor gemak Cormier hem inpakte, maar ik word altijd gelukkig van zijn persoonlijkheid.

En hij kan de up and coming jonge honden nog een kutavond bezorgen. Trouwens, hij kan elke veteraan ook een kutavond bezorgen :)

[Naj85]

Eindelijk terug waar die hoort!
Waar zal die tussen de ufc rankings komen te staan denken jullie?

[Tony]

Goed nieuws dit!