Josh Barnett

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Josh Barnett

Statistics
Nickname	The Babyface Assassin
Height	6 ft 3 in (190.5 cm)
Weight	250 lb (113 kg)
Nationality	American
Born	November 10, 1977 (1977-11-10) (age 30)
Town of birth	Seattle, United States
Team/Association	AMC Pankration
Fighting style	Catch wrestling
Mixed martial arts record
Wins	22
By knockout	4
By submission	13
Losses	5
Draws	0

Joshua L. 'Josh' Barnett (born November 10, 1977, in Seattle, Washington) is an American heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter and a professional wrestler. He has an MMA record of 21-5-0 as of March 2008. He holds notable wins over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark Hunt, Randy Couture, Aleksander Emelianenko, Hidehiko Yoshida, Dan Severn, Jeff Monson and Yuki Kondo.

Barnett is also known as an otaku to his Japanese fans. Famously traveling to the Akihabara district of Tokyo in order to purchase games, figures, etc[1], and also using the theme song "Ai o torimodose" from the anime Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star) as his entrance theme. At PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute, Barnett called out former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko, with a famous quote from the anime, "omae wa mou shindeiru", translated to "You're already dead".

Barnett is known for making humorous interjections before his fights while the referee is going over the rules with both fighters in the centre of the ring. It is much more common for a mixed martial artist to use this opportunity to "stare down" their opponent and try to intimidate them. In a recent match against Hidehiko Yoshida, Barnett asked the referee to repeat himself when he told the fighters that attacking the groin was not allowed, and then feigned surprise and disappointment at this (virtually universal) prohibition.

1 Biography
2 Other Features
3 Mixed martial arts record
4 Championships and accomplishments
- 4.1 Mixed Martial Arts
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early Career in the U.S and UFC

A graduate of Ballard High School in Seattle, Washington, Barnett became the youngest UFC heavyweight champion after defeating Randy Couture in early 2002. Later that year, the title was stripped from Barnett after he allegedly tested positive for EQ aka Boldenone, an anabolic steroid. His fighting license was temporarily suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Barnett and Matt Hume, his trainer at the time, vigorously disputed the results of the NSAC testing. They pointed to irregularities in the timing of the allegations (NSAC claims Barnett also tested positive 4 months prior to the fight, but was inexplicably allowed to fight anyways and only notified him on April 22, 2002, on the heels of contentious contract negotiations between Barnett and the UFC).^{[citation needed]} They also pointed to serious violations of basic protocol in the testing which made it impossible to verify or validate the NSAC's results. Additionally on June 11, 2002, testing adhering to established protocols gave a negative result. Barnett and Hume asserted the June test to be definitive in establishing a false positive and thus Barnett's innocence given that EQ can show up on a steroid test for up to 1.5 years after last use.[2]

[edit] Heavyweight Championship Bout: UFC 36-Worlds Collide and Steroid Controversy

Barnett became the youngest UFC Heavyweight Champion in the organization's history after defeating Randy Couture by TKO (referee stoppage due to strikes) at 4:35 of the second round. Afterwards Barnett was stripped of the UFC Heavyweight title when he allegedly tested positive for steroids during a mandatory post-fight drug test by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Due to violations of testing protocol, it was impossible to validate or verify the results based on the original samples. Barnett who had already taken a previous drug test four months before the fight disputed the results and demanded a third independent drug test due to the fact that the substance allegedly found in his system would have been detectable for at least 18 months. Three months after the second drug test Barnett went through a third test, performed by an expert from the International Olympic Committee, with negative results. After several months without any outcome being decided Barnett left the UFC.[3]

After this incident, Barnett would compete in both Pancrase and Pride over in Japan. While in Pancrase, he won their open weight Grand Prix title. Winning this title put him along the likes of Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, and Bas Rutten as one of the few fighters to be a titleholder in both Pancrase and the UFC.

[edit] Career in Japan and PRIDE

At this point, Josh Barnett began his career overseas as a professional wrestler in the New Japan Pro Wrestling organization . He also continued to compete in MMA fights. In his fight on October 31, 2004 with Croatian Mirko Filipović, he suffered a simultaneous fracture and dislocated shoulder injury that required surgery and over six months of rehab. His first fight back post-injury was a rematch against Filipović, which he lost by unanimous decision. He came back with a win against Kazuhiro Nakamura at PRIDE 31.He later beat Aleksander Emelianenko by a keylock in the first round of the PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix at PRIDE Total Elimination Absolute. He submitted Mark Hunt via kimura in the second round of the Open Weight Grand Prix at PRIDE Critical Countdown Absolute.

Josh Barnett defeated Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira by split decision in the semi finals of the Open Weight Grand Prix, and then lost the final match of the PRIDE Final Conflict Absolute to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović on September 10, 2006; this was his third consecutive loss to Filipović.

Barnett recently fought the Polish Judo gold medalist Pawel Nastula at PRIDE 32, the organization's first show in the USA. In order to fight again in Nevada, the Nevada State Athletic Commission required that Barnett pass a mandatory drug test, which he did. In a surprisingly competitive match which had Nastula in control of the first round and most of the second. Barnett reversed Nastula from the bottom and was able to secure the toe-hold submission which earned him the victory. At a post fight press conference Barnett complimented Nastula on his performance. Barnett's opponent, Nastula, tested positive for steroids.[4]

Barnett lost a rematch by unanimous decision to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at PRIDE Shockwave 2006.

Barnett has also been a critic of the unified rules of MMA, such as the 10 point must system, and how gi's and wrestling shoes are not allowed. Barnett favors PRIDE's judging criteria and the yellow card system because it makes more exciting and action packed fights. Barnett believes gi's should be allowed because it allows the fighters to have their own sense of personalities.

[edit] World Victory Road:Sengoku

After the bout against Nogueira and the defunct of PRIDE, Barnett did not participate MMA events in 2007, except one Pancrase match against Hikaru Sato, which was held under catch wrestling rule on Dec. 22. However, on 2008, Barnett joined the newly organized MMA promotion, Sengoku, having two consecutive main events in Sengoku 1 and Sengoku 2. In each events, Barnett defeated Hidehiko Yoshida by submission in the third round and Jeff Monson by unanimous decision.

Since the contract with World Victory Road is not exclusive, Barnett can join other MMA events. Barnett is scheduled to participate in the inaugural MMA event held by Affliction, an US-based clothing company, in July 2008. Barnett will fight a rematch against Pedro Rizzo, who is responsible for the only knockout loss in Barnett's career.

[edit] Other Features

Barnett has also appeared in the XBOX360 game Beautiful Katamari as one of the people that can be rolled up. He appears as the rare person "Famous Wrestler" in his signature trunks and PRIDE FC gloves.

He currently teaches Catch Wrestling at Erik Paulson's CSW Training Center in Fullerton, California.

[edit] Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
27 matches	22 wins	5 losses
By knockout	4	1
By submission	15	2
By decision	3	2

Result	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	22-5	Jeff Monson	Decision (Unanimous)	Sengoku - Second Battle	02008-05-18 18 May 2008	3	5:00	Tokyo, Japan
Win	21-5	Hidehiko Yoshida	Submission (Heel Hook)	Sengoku - First Battle	02008-03-05 5 March 2008	3	3:23	Tokyo, Japan
Loss	20-5	Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira	Decision (Unanimous)	PRIDE - Shockwave 2006	02006-12-31 31 December 2006	3	5:00	Saitama, Japan
Win	20-4	Pawel Nastula	Submission (Toe Hold)	PRIDE 32 - The Real Deal	02006-10-21 21 October 2006	2	3:04	Nevada, United States
Loss	19-4	Mirko Filipovic	Submission (Strikes)	PRIDE - Final Conflict Absolute	02006-09-10 10 September 2006	1	5:32	Saitama, Japan
Win	19-3	Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira	Decision (Split)	PRIDE - Final Conflict Absolute	02006-09-10 10 September 2006	2	5:00	Saitama, Japan
Win	18-3	Mark Hunt	Submission (Kimura)	PRIDE - Critical Coutdown Absolute	02006-07-01 1 July 2006	1	2:02	Saitama, Japan
Win	17-3	Aleksander Emelianenko	Submission (Keylock)	PRIDE - Total Elimination Absolute	02006-05-05 5 May 2006	2	1:57	Osaka, Japan
Win	16-3	Kazuhiro Nakamura	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	PRIDE 31 - Dreamers	02006-02-26 26 February 2006	1	8:10	Saitama, Japan
Loss	15-3	Mirko Filipovic	Decision (Unaminous)	PRIDE 30 - Fully Loaded	02005-10-23 23 October 2005	3	5:00	Saitama, Japan
Loss	15-2	Mirko Filipovic	Submission (Injury)	PRIDE 28 - High Octane	02004-10-31 31 October 2004	1	0:46	Saitama, Japan
Win	15-1	Rene Rooze	TKO (Punches)	K-1 MMA - ROMANEX	02004-05-22 22 May 2004	1		Saitama, Japan
Win	14-1	Semmy Schilt	Submission (Armbar)	Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003 - Inoki Festival	02003-12-31 31 December 2003	3	4:48	Kobe, Japan
Win	13-1	Yoshiki Takahashi	Submission (Triangle/Armbar)	NJPW - Ultimate Crush	02003-10-13 13 October 2003	2		Tokyo, Japan
Win	12-1	Yuki Kondo	Submission (Rear Naked Choke)	Pancrase - 10th Anniversary Show	02003-08-31 31 August 2003	3	3:26	Tokyo, Japan
Win	11-1	Jimmy Ambriz	TKO (Punches)	NJPW - Ultimate Crush	02003-05-02 2 May 2003	1	3:05	Tokyo, Japan
Win	10-1	Randy Couture	TKO (Strikes)	UFC 36 - Worlds Collide	02002-03-22 22 March 2002	2	4:35	Nevada, United States	Wins UFC Heavyweight Title but fails drug test and is stripped of title
Win	9-1	Bobby Hoffman	Submission (Strikes)	UFC 34 - High Voltage	02001-11-02 2 November 2001	2	4:25	Nevada, United States
Win	8-1	Semmy Schilt	Submission (Armbar)	UFC 32 - Showdown in the Meadowlands	02001-06-29 29 June 2001	1	4:21	New Jersey, United States
Loss	7-1	Pedro Rizzo	KO (Punch)	UFC 30 - Battle on the Boardwalk	02001-02-23 23 February 2001	2	4:21	New Jersey, United States
Win	7-0	Gan McGee	TKO (Strikes)	UFC 28 - High Stakes	02000-11-17 17 November 2000	2	4:34	New Jersey, United States
Win	6-0	Dan Severn	Submission (Armbar)	SB 16 - SuperBrawl 16	02000-02-08 8 February 2000	4	1:21	Hawaii, United States
Win	5-0	Bobby Hoffman	Decision (Unanimous)	SB 13 - SuperBrawl 13	01999-09-07 7 September 1999	3	5:00	Hawaii, United States
Win	4-0	John Marsh	Submission (Kimura)	SB 13 - SuperBrawl 13	01999-09-07 7 September 1999	1	4:23	Hawaii, United States
Win	3-0	Juha Tuhkasaari	Submission (Armbar)	SB 13 - SuperBrawl 13	01999-09-07 7 September 1999	1	3:32	Hawaii, United States
Win	2-0	Bob Gilstrap	Disqualification	UFCF - Night of Champions	01998-03-14 14 March 1998	1	0:42
Win	1-0	Chris Charnos	Submission (Choke)	UFCF - Clash of the Titans	01997-01-11 11 January 1997	1	2:41