After a lengthy hiatus from fighting, Josh Barnett has signed a contract with Bellator.
The former UFC heavyweight champion announced the deal on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday
Barnett was officially released from his UFC contract last year. “The Warmaster” was not happy with the way the promotion handled his failed out-of-competition drug test in December 2016 and admitted that played a major role in his decision to part ways with UFC.
Barnett tested positive for the banned substance ostarine but was able to prove to an independent arbitrator that the result was due to a tainted supplement.
The 41-year-old last appeared at UFC Fight Night 93 on Sept. 3, 2016, when he submitted Andrei Arlovski in the evening’s headliner. He went 3-2 during his second UFC stint, also earning wins over Roy Nelson and Frank Mir while falling to Ben Rothwell and Travis Browne.
Barnett has compiled a 35-8 record since beginning his professional tenure in 1997. He captured the UFC heavyweight crown with a victory over Randy Couture at UFC 36, but was stripped of the title after failing a drug test. His career also includes stints in promotions such as Pride, Strikeforce and Affliction. Barnett owns notable wins over the likes of Sergei Kharitonov, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Pedro Rizzo, Dan Severn, Mir, Nelson, Couture and Arlovski, to name a few.
The former UFC heavyweight champion announced the deal on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday
Barnett was officially released from his UFC contract last year. “The Warmaster” was not happy with the way the promotion handled his failed out-of-competition drug test in December 2016 and admitted that played a major role in his decision to part ways with UFC.
Barnett tested positive for the banned substance ostarine but was able to prove to an independent arbitrator that the result was due to a tainted supplement.
The 41-year-old last appeared at UFC Fight Night 93 on Sept. 3, 2016, when he submitted Andrei Arlovski in the evening’s headliner. He went 3-2 during his second UFC stint, also earning wins over Roy Nelson and Frank Mir while falling to Ben Rothwell and Travis Browne.
Barnett has compiled a 35-8 record since beginning his professional tenure in 1997. He captured the UFC heavyweight crown with a victory over Randy Couture at UFC 36, but was stripped of the title after failing a drug test. His career also includes stints in promotions such as Pride, Strikeforce and Affliction. Barnett owns notable wins over the likes of Sergei Kharitonov, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Pedro Rizzo, Dan Severn, Mir, Nelson, Couture and Arlovski, to name a few.
UFC Rankings Update ...
Newly Ranked ...
FLW #13 L.Smolka
FLW #14 R.Paiva
FLW #15 J.Alvarez
MW #10 J.Hermansson
Out ...
FLW R.Borg
FLW A.Perez
FLW C.Kenney
MW D.Branch
Highest Climbers ...
FLW #11 K.K.France +3
LW #5 J.Gaethje +3
Lower in the Ranks ...
WSW #9 K.Kowalkiewicz -3
Newly Ranked ...
FLW #13 L.Smolka
FLW #14 R.Paiva
FLW #15 J.Alvarez
MW #10 J.Hermansson
Out ...
FLW R.Borg
FLW A.Perez
FLW C.Kenney
MW D.Branch
Highest Climbers ...
FLW #11 K.K.France +3
LW #5 J.Gaethje +3
Lower in the Ranks ...
WSW #9 K.Kowalkiewicz -3
Well, Fuck
According to a report from Brazilian media outlet AgFight, Yoel Romero is out of the UFC Fort Lauderdale main event due to an illness.
The report states that Romero contracted pneumonia in the weeks leading up to the fight, causing him to withdraw from his headlining bout against Jacare
The report states that Souza has been left opponentless, and it is unknown at this time whether he’ll remain on the card.
According to a report from Brazilian media outlet AgFight, Yoel Romero is out of the UFC Fort Lauderdale main event due to an illness.
The report states that Romero contracted pneumonia in the weeks leading up to the fight, causing him to withdraw from his headlining bout against Jacare
The report states that Souza has been left opponentless, and it is unknown at this time whether he’ll remain on the card.
