Josh Barnett: 'War Never Changes'
Josh Barnett: 'War Never Changes'
Josh Barnett reflects upon his fighting career, sharing his most significant accomplishment. Spoiler alert: it's not the UFC heavyweight title.
By Tony Reid
The UFC heavyweight division is a unique beast unlike any other division in the sport, and Josh Barnett is a fixture amidst the chaos.
Where most divisions follow the archetype of established talent eventually giving way to a younger generation on the rise, the heavyweight collective is an anomaly. The Old Guard of the heavyweight division simply refuses to yield, and the past few years have provided consistent examples of its resilience.
In addition to Barnett holding his place on the battlefield, a talented cast that includes Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem, Andrei Arlovski and several others has done the same. Heavyweight fighters in combat sports have always been a priority attraction, but the current situation unfolding under the UFC banner has turned into the wild west.
Barnett—who is slated to face Arlovski at Fight Night 93 on Sept. 3—is, was and has always been as game as they come inside the cage, and he carries an appreciation for the staying power he and his peers have proven to possess.
“[The heavyweight division is] in a constant state of flux because we are big, strong guys that can end a fight at any moment,” Barnett said. “There is always the potential for people to flip-fop in the rankings. You have to look at performance over an extended period of time.
"Someone getting a little flash in the pan against the right opponent shouldn’t bring them way the hell up the rankings versus someone who has had a couple of wins, maybe a loss, then a few more wins but doing all that against solid opponents. I feel like that should weigh more heavily. In the end you have to go out there and win fights and win them impressively.”
The legendary catch wrestler has worked to become one of the most accomplished and dangerous grapplers the sport of MMA has ever seen. Barnett has been competing for the better part of two decades, and during that time has amassed a collection of titles on stages around the world.
Barnett's storied career has not come without twists and turns, but the Erik Paulson-trained fighter has a proven track record of overcoming the adversity set in his path. Even in the latter stages of Barnett's career, the combination of his mental strength and his skill set has kept him within striking distance of a title shot.
Barnett's knack for showmanship has also played a part in his longevity.
“The landscape has changed completely since I left back in 2002, but the game is still very much the same,” Barnett said. “The one constant is fighting. As Ron Perlman says 'War never changes.' Well, fighting never changes. As long as you still have the mustard, you can go out there and tie up with any of your peers and be one of the top guys out there, and if you are still capable of bringing the interest to the viewers, you will always have a place in the sport.”
Barnett's resume is among the best ever in the history of the heavyweight division, and his credentials make him a shoo-in for a Hall of Fame spot once his career comes to a close. And while winning a UFC title is considered by most fighters to be the ultimate prize, that accomplishment doesn't hold the same significance as a different title run for Barnett.
“Winning the King of Pancrase title in 2003 was really big for me," Barnett said. "To have so much history behind that event was huge. My original trainer, Matt Hume, was in the original King of Pancrase tournament, but he lost in the opening round to Minoru Suzuki.
"Being in Japan with New Japan Pro Wrestling at the time when I went into the ring that night… everything wrapped up into all that, and then to be there doing it 10 years after the original King of Pancrase, 10 years after my coach had fought for it, coming around and winning it myself. That was impressive.”
The UFC heavyweight division is a unique beast unlike any other division in the sport, and Josh Barnett is a fixture amidst the chaos.
Where most divisions follow the archetype of established talent eventually giving way to a younger generation on the rise, the heavyweight collective is an anomaly. The Old Guard of the heavyweight division simply refuses to yield, and the past few years have provided consistent examples of its resilience.
In addition to Barnett holding his place on the battlefield, a talented cast that includes Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem, Andrei Arlovski and several others has done the same. Heavyweight fighters in combat sports have always been a priority attraction, but the current situation unfolding under the UFC banner has turned into the wild west.
Barnett—who is slated to face Arlovski at Fight Night 93 on Sept. 3—is, was and has always been as game as they come inside the cage, and he carries an appreciation for the staying power he and his peers have proven to possess.
“[The heavyweight division is] in a constant state of flux because we are big, strong guys that can end a fight at any moment,” Barnett said. “There is always the potential for people to flip-fop in the rankings. You have to look at performance over an extended period of time.
"Someone getting a little flash in the pan against the right opponent shouldn’t bring them way the hell up the rankings versus someone who has had a couple of wins, maybe a loss, then a few more wins but doing all that against solid opponents. I feel like that should weigh more heavily. In the end you have to go out there and win fights and win them impressively.”
The legendary catch wrestler has worked to become one of the most accomplished and dangerous grapplers the sport of MMA has ever seen. Barnett has been competing for the better part of two decades, and during that time has amassed a collection of titles on stages around the world.
Barnett's storied career has not come without twists and turns, but the Erik Paulson-trained fighter has a proven track record of overcoming the adversity set in his path. Even in the latter stages of Barnett's career, the combination of his mental strength and his skill set has kept him within striking distance of a title shot.
Barnett's knack for showmanship has also played a part in his longevity.
“The landscape has changed completely since I left back in 2002, but the game is still very much the same,” Barnett said. “The one constant is fighting. As Ron Perlman says 'War never changes.' Well, fighting never changes. As long as you still have the mustard, you can go out there and tie up with any of your peers and be one of the top guys out there, and if you are still capable of bringing the interest to the viewers, you will always have a place in the sport.”
Barnett's resume is among the best ever in the history of the heavyweight division, and his credentials make him a shoo-in for a Hall of Fame spot once his career comes to a close. And while winning a UFC title is considered by most fighters to be the ultimate prize, that accomplishment doesn't hold the same significance as a different title run for Barnett.
“Winning the King of Pancrase title in 2003 was really big for me," Barnett said. "To have so much history behind that event was huge. My original trainer, Matt Hume, was in the original King of Pancrase tournament, but he lost in the opening round to Minoru Suzuki.
"Being in Japan with New Japan Pro Wrestling at the time when I went into the ring that night… everything wrapped up into all that, and then to be there doing it 10 years after the original King of Pancrase, 10 years after my coach had fought for it, coming around and winning it myself. That was impressive.”