Josh Barnett

On January 13, 2020 Josh announced that on April 2, 2020 during Bloodsport that he would finally face off against Jon Moxley.

On April 1, 2019, it was revealed that Barnett signed a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA. Barnett was expected to make his promotional debut against Ronny Markes on December 20, 2019 at Bellator's Salute the Troops event in Honolulu, Hawaii, but was deemed unable to compete due to severe illness on the night of the event. The bout was rescheduled for Bellator 241 on March 13, 2020, but Barnett failed medical tests and was replaced by Matt Mitrione.

Josh Barnett hosted the GCW Bloodsport event of 2019. He fought Minoru Suzuki in the main event. On June 22, 2019 it was announced that Bloodsport 2 would happen on September 14, 2019 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Jon Moxley was announced as his opponent. After Moxley had to bow out of the bout due to injury, Chris Dickinson would be announced as his replacement. Josh Barnett would go on to defeat Chris Dickinson in the main event.

On June 20, 2018, Barnett was granted his request to be released from UFC, claiming he does not trust the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

During the January 2017 Impact Wrestling tapings, Barnett joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), answering an open challenge from Bobby Lashley, facing him in a match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. The following week on Impact!, Barnett defeated Bad Bones in his in-ring debut. The Following week on Impact Wrestling, Barnett was defeated by Lashley in TNA World Heavyweight Championship match. He also defended a title with the promotion.

Barnett returned to IGF on April 5, 2017, defeating Shinichi Suzukawa on the promotion's inaugural Next Exciting Wrestling (NEW) event.

In 2017 Barnett formed his own fight team. They took their name from the shoot style that Billy Robinson helped popularize in Japan. The team is called UWF USA, it is a Shootfighting and Catch Wrestling based fighting team. Barnett is the head coach/trainer for the team.

Barnett faced Ben Rothwell on January 30, 2016 at UFC on Fox 18. He lost the fight in the second round due to a gogó choke, resulting in the first loss due to a submission hold during Barnett's lengthy MMA career.

Barnett next faced Andrei Arlovski on September 3, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 93. He won the fight via submission in the third round, earning a Performance of the Night bonus. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night for their performance.

In December 2016, UFC was notified of a potential USADA doping violation by Barnett from an out-of-competition test. On March 2018, Barnett was clear to fight and received a "public reprimand" instead of a suspension from USADA after it was determined that his failed test was the result of a contaminated supplement.

In January 2015, Barnett began working as a color commentator for NJPW's weekly program on AXS TV.

Barnett has also done his share of acting, appearing alongside Steven Seagal in 2015's Absolution and Michael Jai White in 2016's Never Back Down: No Surrender.

Barnett initially declined to sign with the UFC. However, on May 21, 2013, it was announced that Barnett had returned to the UFC and signed a multi-fight contract with the promotion.

Barnett faced former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir on August 31, 2013 at UFC 164. He won the fight in the first round by knockout.

Barnett faced Travis Browne on December 28, 2013 at UFC 168. He lost the fight via knockout due to elbow strikes in the first round.

After working as a coach on Road to UFC Japan, Barnett faced Roy Nelson in the main event at UFC Fight Night 75. He won the fight via unanimous decision (48–47, 48–47, and 50–45). The win also earned Barnett his first Performance of the Night bonus award.

Barnett appeared as himself in an episode of the 2013 web series Black Dynamite Teaches a Hard Way!, where a Black Dynamite mannequin teaches him the consequences of littering.

He faced fellow finalist Daniel Cormier on May 19, 2012 at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier to determine the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion. Dana White announced if Barnett were to defeat Cormier, he would be allowed back into the UFC, "If he wins the fight, I can't see why he wouldn't come [to the UFC]." Barnett lost the bout via unanimous decision (49–46, 50–45, and 50–45), losing for the first time in over 5 years. In January 2013, Barnett faced a promotional newcomer, Nandor Guelmino, at the final Strikeforce event. Barnett defeated Guelmino via arm-triangle choke submission in the first round.

Barnett faced Brett Rogers on June 18, 2011 at Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum in the opening round of a Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament. Barnett submitted Rogers with an arm-triangle choke in the second round of the bout.

Barnett defeated Sergei Kharitonov in the semi-final of the tournament headlining Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov on September 10, 2011 at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Starting in February at IGF Genome 14, IGF began a title tournament to crown a new Heavyweight Champion and Barnett not only continued his winning streak but he advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament with his victory over Montanha Silva. In July at IGF Genome 16, he defeated Bobby Lashley with a cross armbreaker to advance to the finals of the title tournament. Was scheduled to face Jérôme Le Banner for the IGF Heavyweight Championship in a tournament final scheduled for August 27 at the IGF Super Stars Festival 2011. However, it was announced on August 19 that Barnett had to pull out of the match up and Le Banner was declared the first ever IGF champion on August 22. However, Josh Barnett would get his shot at the IGF Heavyweight Championship on December 2 against the champion, Jerome Le Banner. Barnett would lose the contest by knockout.

Due to the positive drug tests, Barnett made a re-licensure appeal to the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). The CSAC postponed Barnett's appeal three times. The first two postponements occurred because Barnett's law firm required additional information from the laboratory that conducted Barnett's tests. Michael J. DiMaggio, Barnett's attorney, was unable to attend the hearing because of travel problems, causing the third extension, which would have taken place February 22, 2010.

Barnett was a no-show at his hearing on February 22, 2010, making this the fourth delay in his appeal. Shannon Hooper, Barnett's manager, told MMAjunkie.com that on Monday February 22, 2010 Barnett was in Japan on Sunday February 21, 2010 for a professional wrestling match and would return to the U.S. later that day. He claimed he was unaware that his presence was required, but the CSAC stated they had notified him of this months before. Barnett later signed on with MMA organization Strikeforce.

Barnett signed to fight for DREAM in 2010, and made his debut on March 22, 2010 at DREAM 13 against Mighty Mo. He won the fight via submission in the first round. During the fight, he accidentally kicked Mighty Mo in the groin so immediately after winning the fight, Barnett approached Mighty Mo apologizing for the illegal strike and in return allowed Mighty Mo to knee him in the groin.

On September 13, 2010 it was announced that Josh Barnett had signed a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce.

In January 2009, Barnett fought PRIDE veteran Gilbert Yvel at Affliction: Day of Reckoning. Barnett defeated Yvel by a submission resulting from strikes in the third round. His next match-up, scheduled on August 1, 2009 against Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction's 3rd event Affliction: Trilogy, was one of the most anticipated match-up between the then ranked number one Heavyweight Emelianenko and number two Heavyweight Barnett. However, the fight was officially pulled 10 days before the fight by the California State Athletic Commission after Barnett tested positive for anabolic steroids (a metabolite of drostanolone) for a second time. The event and Affliction Entertainment itself was cancelled July 24, 2009 as a result. Barnett requested that they test his "B" sample hoping there was an error in the test. His "B" sample was also positive.

Barnett competed in the California Classic 2009 BJJ Tournament on November 15, 2009. Barnett lost a decision to ADCC veteran and Brazilian jiu-jitsu World Champion Romulo Barral from Gracie Barra in the Black Belt Gi Absolute division. On December 19, 2009, Paulson awarded Barnett his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. Even though Barnett had never trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu he was given his belt based on competition merit and overall knowledge.

Since his contract with World Victory Road was not exclusive, Barnett was able to join other MMA events. Barnett participated in the inaugural MMA event held by Affliction Entertainment, in July 2008. Seven years after his only knockout loss to Pedro Rizzo, he avenged that loss at Affliction: Banned with a knockout of his own in the second round.

After the bout against Nogueira and the acquisition of PRIDE by the UFC, Barnett did not participate in any MMA events in 2007, except one Pancrase match against Hikaru Sato, which was held under catch wrestling rules on Dec. 22. Barnett did not follow many other PRIDE veterans to the UFC because he desired to join an organization that included the top Heavyweight fighter in the world, Fedor Emelianenko. In 2008, Barnett joined the newly organized MMA promotion, Sengoku, and fought in consecutive main events at Sengoku 1 and Sengoku 2, submitting Hidehiko Yoshida with a heel hook in the third round, and defeating Jeff Monson by unanimous decision.

Barnett debuted in Antonio Inoki's Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) wrestling promotion in June 2007 with a victory over Tadao Yasuda. He racked up victories against Don Frye and Montanha Silva before suffering his first loss against Naoya Ogawa. The same man he beat earlier in the night. Since the loss, he has been on a winning streak beating The Predator, Hitokui Yoshiki, Tank Abbott, Jon Andersen, Fonseca, Atsushi Sawada, Bob Sapp, Ultimate Mask, Tim Sylvia, Montanha Silva, Bobby Lashley and Hideki Suzuki.

Barnett later beat Alexander Emelianenko by an Americana submission in the second round of the PRIDE Openweight Grand Prix at PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute. He submitted Mark Hunt via kimura in the first round of the Openweight Grand Prix at Pride Critical Countdown Absolute. Barnett defeated Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira by split decision in the semi finals of the Openweight Grand Prix, however he lost the final match of the PRIDE Final Conflict Absolute to Cro Cop on September 10, 2006, submitting after an unintentional finger poke to the eye. In a post-fight interview, Barnett explained the incident: "I opened up my guard and I grabbed his leg to go for a leg lock, and in the scramble Mirko put his hand out to post and he caught a finger deep in my right eye. And as soon as it happened I let go of the leg and grabbed my face, and I couldn't see anything at the time and I had no idea where he was and I just didn't want him to punt me in the face with a kick when I can't see and I'm blinded. He said, you know, 'Sorry' and I said to him that he was winning that night and it was an accident. He didn't mean [to do it]". This also marked the third time he was beaten by the MMA legend.

Next, Barnett fought the Polish Judo gold medalist Pawel Nastula at PRIDE 32, the organization's first show in the United States. To fight again in Nevada, the Nevada State Athletic Commission required that Barnett pass a mandatory drug test. In a surprisingly competitive match, Nastula controlled the first round and most of the second. Barnett reversed Nastula from the bottom and was able to secure a toe-hold submission, which earned him the victory. At a post-fight press conference, Barnett complimented Nastula on his performance. Nastula, however, subsequently tested positive for steroids. Barnett then lost a rematch by unanimous decision to Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira at Pride Shockwave 2006.

As a professional wrestler, Barnett made his in-ring debut in 2003 in the main event of New Japan Pro Wrestling's annual January 4 Tokyo Dome Show, in a bout against IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yuji Nagata. Since then he has also wrestled for Inoki Genome Federation and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. In January 2015, Barnett began working as a color commentator for NJPW's weekly program on America's AXS TV.

Barnett began his overseas career as a professional wrestler in the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) organization, where he wrestled numerous matches in 2003 and 2004. In his first match, he wrestled champion Yuji Nagata for that promotions version of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Although unsuccessful in that match, Barnett formed a tag team with Perry Saturn and was undefeated in the following NJPW tour, Fighting Spirit 2003. Barnett wrestled over 50 matches in total for the NJPW promotion.

Barnett made his UFC debut at UFC 28 on November 17, 2000 against 6' 10" Gan "The Giant" McGee and Barnett won via TKO in the second round. Despite suffering a KO loss in his next fight against Pedro Rizzo he would bounce back and win his next two fights over 7' 0" Dutch kickboxer Semmy Schilt via armbar submission, and then received a submission win in a rematch with Bobby Hoffman. Subsequent to his win over Hoffman, Barnett tested positive for banned substances and was given a warning by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Barnett was then given a title shot for the UFC Heavyweight Championship against then-champion and future UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture. He won via TKO after using the ground and pound technique and became the new and youngest-ever UFC Heavyweight Champion. However, after the bout it was revealed that he had again tested positive for banned substances and his title was stripped.

Barnett's documented professional debut was in early 1997 in Washington, competing for United Full Contact Federation. He won via rear-naked choke submission under three minutes into the fight. He would continue to dominate, reaching a 9-0 record with seven first-round stoppages and wins over future UFC Hall of Famer Dan Severn, Bobby Hoffman, John Marsh, and Bob Gilstrap twice. With a 9-0 record, Barnett was invited to compete in the UFC.

Joshua Lawrence Barnett (born November 10, 1977) is an American mixed martial artist, professional wrestler and color commentator currently signed to Bellator MMA, competing in their Heavyweight division. Barnett previously competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. In 2003, Barnett won the King of Pancrase Openweight Championship and was a finalist in both the 2006 PRIDE Openweight Grand Prix and the 2012 Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship Grand Prix. He has also competed in Affliction, World Victory Road, DREAM and Impact FC. In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Barnett won the inaugural Metamoris Heavyweight Championship in 2014.