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Top 5 Stories of the Week
By: Brian Knapp
Josh Barnett has not fought in the UFC in more than a decade. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Josh Barnett’s return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship is imminent. Barnett and the UFC have agreed to material terms for a multi-fight contract, Sherdog.com confirmed with a source close to the deal.
One of the heavyweight division’s most seasoned veterans, Barnett, 35, made his professional MMA debut in 1997 and rattled off nine straight wins before joining the UFC in 2000. “The Warmaster” won three of his first four Octagon outings and then captured the heavyweight title from Randy Couture in 2002, only to later see the title stripped from him after testing positive for banned substances.
Barnett departed the UFC and went on to build a successful career in Japan, becoming the open weight King of Pancrase before moving on to the Pride Fighting Championships and then Sengoku. Barnett eventually signed with Strikeforce, where he defeated Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov to advance in the promotion’s 2011 heavyweight grand prix. The man formerly known as “The Baby-Faced Assassin” would see his tournament run come to a halt in the final, however, as Barnett was bested by the highly regarded Daniel Cormier in a memorable five-round confrontation last year.
Barnett most recently competed on Jan. 12 at Strikeforce’s final event, tearing through an overmatched Nandor Guelmino and forcing the Austrian heavyweight to submit to a first-round arm-triangle choke. Known for his catch wrestling expertise, Barnett owns 20 of his 32 career wins by way of submission.
Familiar Face
Walking Away
Moving Pieces
Higher Learning
Promise Keeper
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Wednesday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Wednesday
6:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Fight Night
UFC 125: Jake Ellenberger vs. Jake Shields Relive the action from UFC 125.
11:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Johny Hendricks' single-minded focus on GSP; Rory MacDonald Full Blast; Daniel Cormier's ambitions for both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions; and Frank Mir on the warrior code.
11:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 115
2:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Preview for UFC 158: Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz at Bell Centre in Montréal, Québec.
2:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 115
3:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Fight Night
UFC 125: Jake Ellenberger vs. Jake Shields Relive the action from UFC 125.
5:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship
Wanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson, Mark Kerr vs. Igor Borisov, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring, and Josh Barnett vs. Mark Hunt.
6:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Countdown
Leading up to UFC 158: Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz.
7:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Preview for UFC 158: Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz at Bell Centre in Montréal, Québec.
7:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage
Future Legends 12 Mac Brown vs. Gerald Harvey; Kevin Bayes vs. Sului Maauga; Angel Nieblas vs. Abrahan Coronel; Danielle Taylor vs. Lena Hellqvist; Thomas Dyke vs. Ronnie Moore.
7:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 115
8:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Reloaded
UFC 79: Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Hughes; Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva.
9:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Greatest KO's 15
The best collection of knock outs ever caught on camera and featuring some of today's biggest stars in MMA.
10:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage
Future Legends 12 Mac Brown vs. Gerald Harvey; Kevin Bayes vs. Sului Maauga; Angel Nieblas vs. Abrahan Coronel; Danielle Taylor vs. Lena Hellqvist; Thomas Dyke vs. Ronnie Moore.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet Ontario: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet East: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
12:00 a.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Greatest KO's 15
The best collection of knock outs ever caught on camera and featuring some of today's biggest stars in MMA.
12:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Fight Night
UFC 125: Jake Ellenberger vs. Jake Shields Relive the action from UFC 125. Read more -
Thursday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Thursday
3:00 a.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Classics Vol. 14
A historic collection of matchups.
4:00 a.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Greatest KO's 14
The best collection of knock outs ever caught on camera and featuring some of today's biggest stars in MMA.
6:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Best of Jon Jones, Jon Jones & Rashad Evans face-off looking ahead to UFC 145; All access with Jones and Evans.
6:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Liz Carmouche prepares for her UFC debut; All-access for the UFC 157 promo shoot; Dustin Poirier's pursuit of the featherweight championship; and Michael Bisping on the UK's rich combat sports history.
7:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
EPISODE: 108
7:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Johny Hendricks' single-minded focus on GSP; Rory MacDonald Full Blast; Daniel Cormier's ambitions for both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions; and Frank Mir on the warrior code.
8:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC: Travis Browne vs. Antonio Silva Prelims
Jeremy Stephens vs. Yves Edwards; Michael Johnson vs. Danny Castillo; Mike Pierce vs. Aaron Simpson; Marcus LeVesseur vs. Carlo Prater; Jacob Volkmann vs. Shane Roller; Bart Palaszewski vs. Diego Nunes; Darren Uyenoyama vs. Phil Harris.
4:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Fighter's Cut - Frank Mir relives some of his most memorable UFC fights.
4:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Johny Hendricks' single-minded focus on GSP; Rory MacDonald Full Blast; Daniel Cormier's ambitions for both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions; and Frank Mir on the warrior code.
5:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Reloaded
Relive all the action from UFC 146: Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
8:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Tonight
Fighter's Cut - Frank Mir relives some of his most memorable UFC fights.
8:30 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider
Johny Hendricks' single-minded focus on GSP; Rory MacDonald Full Blast; Daniel Cormier's ambitions for both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions; and Frank Mir on the warrior code.
9:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
Featuring Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick and Melvin Guillard vs. Shane Roller.
10:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Unleashed
Featuring Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber and Sam Stout vs. Yves Edwards.
10:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
EPISODE: 10 Dan Cramer vs. Brett Cooper; Doug Marshall vs. Sultan Aliev; Alexandre Bezerra vs. Mike Richman; Magomedrasul Khasbulaev vs. Marlon Sandro. From Temecula, Calif.
11:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 17 Episode 7: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen: His Fist on My Face The guys get a night out at Hooters; a fighter's recurring leg pain lands him in the hospital; two fighters square off in the sixth preliminary fight.
12:00 a.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
EPISODE: 10 Dan Cramer vs. Brett Cooper; Doug Marshall vs. Sultan Aliev; Pop Bezerra vs. Mike Richman; Frodo Khasbulaev vs. Marlon Sandro. From Temecula, Calif.
12:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship
Wanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson, Mark Kerr vs. Igor Borisov, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring, and Josh Barnett vs. Mark Hunt. Read more -
Olympic Wrestling in Danger: Fighters, Wrestlers React
By: Sherdog.com Staff
Mixed martial arts and wrestling are two sports inextricably linked, so fighters and wrestlers alike had plenty to say Tuesday when the International Olympic Committee made a move toward dropping wrestling from the 2020 Summer Games.
Here’s a sampling of the reactions:
Banning wrestling in the Olympics goes way beyond the event itself. It will affect this amazing sport at every level! #SaveOlympicWrestling
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) February 12, 2013 -
Throwback Video: Josh Barnett vs. Mark Hunt
By: Sherdog.com Staff
In 2013, Mark Hunt is an improbable contender in the UFC heavyweight division, while the long-absent Josh Barnett appears to be headed back to the Octagon after the shuttering of Strikeforce. But seven years ago, the big men squared off in the quarterfinals of Pride’s 2006 openweight tournament at “Critical Countdown Absolute.”
Check out the full fight courtesy of Fuel TV’s “Best of Pride” series. Read more -
Dave Meltzer Joins Press Row
By: Jordan Breen
Every Wednesday, Administrative Editor Jordan Breen welcomes a member of the mixed martial arts media into “Press Row” on the Sherdog.com blog. This week, Breen is joined by Wrestling Observer Newsletter founder and editor Dave Meltzer.
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With Bellator's eighth season kickoff slated for Thursday in Irvine, Calif., Breen and Meltzer discuss the season's potential and importance for the company, now owned by Viacom and broadcasting live on Spike. The two delve into what kind of ratings can be expected, the role pro-wrestling organization TNA will play as a lead-in for the first live event on Spike, the configuration of the live card and Bellator's struggle to make television stars in the MMA game.
The pair discuss the signing and promotion of Muhammed Lawal, his stint in TNA and the shortcomings of the idea, why Josh Barnett might be the best candidate for a simultaneous Bellator-TNA fighting-wrestling star and the negative ramifications of Bellator's negotiations with Eddie Alvarez.
Grab your credential and get a seat in “Press Row.” -
Podcast: Barnett, Noons, Hyatt
By: Sherdog.com Staff
Beatdown kicked off 2013 with a bang Wednesday on the Sherdog Radio Network. Joining TJ De Santis and Jeff Sherwood were fighters Josh Barnett, K.J. Noons and Bec Hyatt.
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Barnett looks to finish his Strikeforce career on a high note this month in Oklahoma City. The former UFC heavyweight champion faces Nandor Guelmino in the promotion’s final offering. “The Warmaster” joined the broadcast to chat about the importance of Strikeforce’s final show and whether we can expect to see him in the UFC. The former King of Pancrase also discusses his relationship with Megumi Fujii and if her Christmas Eve fight in Japan was really her last.
Noons will also be fighting his final Strikeforce bout on Jan. 12. Standing across the cage from him will be Ryan Couture. Noons breaks down the fight, his plans in life after Strikeforce, and if he feels Couture is ready to be fighting someone who once held the title of champion.
On Saturday night in Kansas City, Invicta FC will promote their fourth show. Atop that card is a strawweight title bout between Carla Esparza and Bec Hyatt. Australia’s Hyatt shared her thoughts on her first few days in America, what she expected out of Esparza, and if she plans on coming stateside again to train.
Check out the show here. -
Wednesday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Wednesday
5:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: Ultimate Answers UFC fighters' takes on topics from the hard-hitting to the totally random.
6:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Knockouts 9 A compilation of knockouts from Anderson Silva, Rich Franklin, Jon Jones, B.J. Penn and Cain Velasquez, to name a few.
10:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider Best of Georges St. Pierre GSP's 10 month rehab; Jon Anik travels to Montreal for an interview with the welterweight champ.
10:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider Fuel for the Fire Long Island native Chris Weidman tours the town he loves; Alexander Gustafsson sits down with Jon Anik; Nate Diaz's submission game; Chad Mendes' dominating performance.
11:00 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider Alexander Gustafsson's San Diego training; Joe Lauzon's signature moves; Arianny Celeste poses.
11:30 a.m. ET FuelTV: UFC Ultimate Insider Flashback Seattle; Heavyweights Collide Experience UFC on FOX 5 from a new perspective; The comeback of Cain Velasquez; Randy Couture analyzes the Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez championship fight.
12:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship Greatest fights in Pride history.
1:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship The greatest knockouts in pride history.
2:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship The Gracie clan, first family of MMA, is on full display.
3:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship Some of Pride's greatest heavyweights of all time.
4:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship The Brazilian Top Team The best of the greatest submission team in Pride.
5:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship UFC to Pride Fighters that successfully transition from UFC to Pride.
6:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship The most shocking moments in Pride history.
6:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the CageFuture Legends 10 Christina Cardona vs. Dennis Parker; Arsenio Jones vs. Kurt Dawson; Arthur Powelll vs. Gerald Harvey; Anthony Fike vs. Ronnie Moore; Shannon Reid vs. Julia Avila; Raul Hernandez vs. Cory Hall; Marco Lopez vs. Heath Hampton.
7:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship Nick Diaz vs Takanori Gomi.
8:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship The best of Pride's Japanese hometown stars.
8:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Classics Vol. 6 A historic collection of match ups.
9:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship Wanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson, Mark Kerr vs. Igor Borisov, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring, and Josh Barnett vs. Mark Hunt.
9:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Greatest KO's 5 Some of the best knockouts in the history of King of the Cage.
10:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the CageFuture Legends 10 Christina Cardona vs. Dennis Parker; Arsenio Jones vs. Kurt Dawson; Arthur Powelll vs. Gerald Harvey; Anthony Fike vs. Ronnie Moore; Shannon Reid vs. Julia Avila; Raul Hernandez vs. Cory Hall; Marco Lopez vs. Heath Hampton.
10:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting ChampionshipNo Weight Classes Some of the biggest size discrepancies in MMA history.
11:00 p.m. ET FuelTV: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship Fastest Fights in Pride History Countdown of the fastest fights.
12:00 a.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Greatest KO's 5 Some of the best knockouts in the history of King of the Cage.
12:00 p.m. ET UFC: George Sotiropoulos vs. Ross Pearson Rousimar Palhares vs. Hector Lombard; Norman Parke vs. Colin Fletcher; Bradley Scott vs. Robert Whittaker; George Sotiropoulos vs. Ross Pearson. From Queensland, Australia. (Card subject to change) Read more -
Poll: Josh Barnett in the UFC
Follow the jump for reader comments. Read more -
Top 5 Stories of the Week
By: Brian Knapp
Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks wants a shot at UFC gold. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Neither Johny Hendricks nor the men who populate his inner circle want him to get lost in the hubbub surrounding a potential super fight between Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight and welterweight titleholders Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre.
Hendricks has emerged as the top contender for St. Pierre’s 170-pound title, with successive victories against T.J. Waldburger, Mike Pierce, Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck and Martin Kampmann. Steven Wright, Hendricks’ striking coach with Team Takedown, did not mince words when talked turned to who they want next.
“Clearly, after the resume that we’ve put together, we definitely want GSP,” Wright told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show.
Other stories of interest on Sherdog.com this week:
Pursuing ‘Rush’
Call of Duty
Policy Shift
‘Spartan’ Sensation
Moniker Mania
Follow the jump for reader comments. Read more