Irish Whip Fighting Exclusive: Josh Barnett Interview

MMA star Josh Barnett is considered one of "The 5 Men Who Can Beat Fedor" by many. Hear him talk about Fedor, the UFC, and his friend Babalu.

Irish Whip Fighting: When can we expect to see you fighting again?

Josh Barnett: The nearest I can think of is the Imagination TV show Pancrase: Legends of MMA. You can catch some of my matches there on November 7th for 15 weeks. But for some live in the ring action, I'm talking to some companies right now and we've got some things on the table. But there's nothing that's absolute, nothing to say that I'll be definitely fighting at a certain time.

IWF: Can you tell us any of those organizations that you're currently looking at?

JB: Umm…all of them (laughs).

IWF: Is there any chance that you could wind up back in UFC someday?

JB: There's always a chance. It's just about the right offer, that's all.

IWF: How soon?

JB: The UFC? I don't know, maybe you should call Dana up and ask him (laughs).

IWF: Why is there such a big conflict between you and Dana?

JB: When I think somebody says something that's BS, or if I think that something isn't being done up to par, then I say something. That's probably why. I've been in this business longer then he has, and there's just a certain amount of respect that I expect, and I don't necessarily feel like I get that from him all of the time. He says some things and that's fine. He's allowed to make any statements he wants; I'm going to make a rebuttal. It's up to him if he wants to get real torqued off about it, not me.

IWF: What do you think about your friend Renato Sobral being kicked out of UFC?

JB: I think it was totally lame. I think it was a totally BS deal. I think it was unnecessary to the level at what they did. I don't think it follows any of the protocol that is standard for other situations like this. And I think that there was other motivation behind it

IWF: People have done worse things in the cage then his choke. I know that B.J. Penn's choke on Jens Pulver was longer then Sobral's on Heath, and B.J. didn't get punished at all.

JB: No he didn't, and the only difference being Jens didn't go out. That's the only thing that I can see, but beyond that all I've heard is that they hugged after word. But David Heath on his way out said he respected Babalu, he had a lot of respect for him. So what's the difference there?

IWF: What punishment do you think Renato should've gotten?

JB: They had to punish him? Some sort of a fine if they had to, but not to that extent.

IWF: You've been known to speak Japanese and even use a Japanese theme as your entrance. Can you talk a little about the connection you have with your Japanese fans?

JB: Um…a psychic link…

IWF: Haha, can you elaborate?

JB: Yeah, I just really enjoy the culture. I really enjoy other cultures all around the world. And I think that knowing more then one language is a really rich thing to have in someone's life. I think that we've just clicked. Being on the level of nerdom that I'm on, it really talks to them. I love fighting over there, and I love the great positive vibes that I get from the Japanese fans.

IWF: In the first issue of FIGHT! Magazine, you were listed as one of the 5 people who could possibly beat Fedor. Why do you think your paths have never crossed?

JB: At this point it's the same reason why I haven't gotten into the ring yet, just politics and contract stuff. But right now it's not my fight. My management is out there doing stuff, not me, but we'll get it done.

IWF: If given the opportunity, how do you feel you would match up?

JB: I think that I'd match up pretty well with him. I'd be surprise if anybody else could do much going against Fedor. But there's an x-factor in that we're friends and that we respect each other so much, which will bring better fighting spirit out of both of us.

IWF: You've beaten everyone from Couture to Big Nog. What's the biggest win of your career?

JB: Yuki Kondo. I won the King of Pancrase with that win, it was in Ryogoku, and I had all my teammates from New Japan Pro Wrestling there. It was just an awesome thing.

IWF: Do you think that you could defeat current UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture?

JB: Absolutely. Absolutely. I think I could finish him in two rounds more or less, but not because he won't be out there doing his thing. It'll be a big fight, but I think our styles favor me. But he's doing really well for himself, and it's fun to watch him out there and to cheer for him. And if it does ever happen then I'll have to put the fan in me aside and just go out there and take care of business.

IWF: You're a well-known critic of the 10-point system, and lately, we've been seeing that come under fire with some questionable decisions or rounds that would be scored 10-8. Can you talk a little about that?

JB: Part of the biggest problem in MMA right now is that the submission isn't given a lot of weight in the United States. That's a huge detriment to me. I think that MMA fights should be judged on not so much control, but who comes closest to finishing a fight. If you are scoring knockdowns, mounted positions raining sizeable punches that are causing damage, or near submissions; that should count a lot more then just taking down someone a lot. Not to mention just going for a submission means you're trying to finish the fight. People that are just on top picking away isn't trying to finish a fight. They should be rewarded as such. I think that the PRIDE system was really the best system. And off course the human err factor comes into it as well. Sometimes people make mistakes when they're judging. People are going to disagree with the judges, and that's something that people are going to have to deal with. But those criteria that I mentioned before are the most important.

IWF: Did you find competition in PRIDE or UFC to be tougher?

JB: When I fought there definitely PRIDE.

IWF: Why is that?

JB: I don't know, at the time they were just better fighters, they were better athletes, and they were better fights. Whether they're having success outside of PRIDE is another thing, but at the time they were the cream of the crop.

IWF: Well the PRIDE fighters aren't doing very well in the UFC. Why do you think this is?

JB: I don't know, maybe all of that money that they're making now is allowing them to party all the time. I've been really surprised with some of these fights that I've seen. I have no idea.

IWF: We're doing a story in which we pit Legends against Current stars and ask other MMA fighters how they see the bout going down if the Legend was in his prime. Could you please comment on:

Dan Severn vs. Randy Couture

JB: Well I think that early on Severn would take him down and have most of the control, but eventually I think that Randy's standup could take Severn, and Randy could go into later rounds. He would wear Dan out and outwrestle him as well. I'd say Couture via TKO or a decision.

IWF: Rickson Gracie vs. Frank Shamrock

JB: Frank Shamrock beats the crap out of him.

IWF: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Brock Lesnar

JB: Versus who?! Brock Lesnar? What is Brock's prime? Have we seen it yet? I think that we can expect a lot out of Brock Lesnar. He's training under Erik Paulson's CSW instructor Greg Nelson who's an incredible coach. He's got a great mind when it comes to fighting. Brock is going to get exponentially better, this I can promise. But for right now I'd say that Mirko mows him over with a KO.

IWF: In a second section, we're pitting a guy with no MMA training against a Legend and asking how the fight would go down if the first guy received complete MMA training. Obviously, these are a bit more fun and less scientific. Could you please comment on:

Bruce Lee vs. Fedor

JB: Fedor all the way. Bruce Lee was a really well-rounded fighter for his time. He was very agile, athletic, and very explosive. But he just didn't have the developed ground game that Fedor does. Bruce Lee is a Seattle guy too, so I hate to pick against him.

IWF: Chuck Norris vs. Chuck Liddell

JB: Well Chuck Liddell is a D-1 wrestler, so if he has to he can take the fight to the ground. But if he decides not to like with Jardine, then it's hard to say. I'd say a draw.

IWF: Muhammad Ali vs. Royce Gracie

JB: So Muhammad Ali gets MMA training?

IWF: Yes.

JB: He does. Okay I say Muhammad Ali by sprawl and brawl decision. But choose another boxer not as quick, and I think Royce Gracie cranks the crap out of him.

IWF: Do you have anything to say to your fans?

JB: If you want to keep up with what I'm doing then just check out www.joshbarnett.tv. You'll find out more about the fighters I'm working with and when they're fighting. Just everything to do with Josh Barnett in general.

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Five Men Who Can Beat Fedor

Every sport has its top dog. The guy that sits atop the food chain of the sport. In MMA, that man is Fedor Emelianenko. In this article, I highlight the five men who I believe have a legitimate chance of beating "The Last Emperor."

With the recent acquisition of PRIDE by Zuffa, the doors have been opened for all types of match ups that were once deemed to be impossible. The top fighters in each weight class will be fighting each other now regardless of which organization they fought for before. MMA has always been known as a very unpredictable sport. The smallest of mtakes can end up costing a fighter the match. Many people are quick to say that Mr. Emelianenko is unbeatable. As good of a champion and as dominant as he may be, the fact of the matter is that in this sport, no one is unbeatable. Anything can happen in a fight at any time. Below is a list of five fighters who I believe have the tools to defeat Emelianenko. Now, I'm not saying that these fighters WILL beat Fedor. (A few that I chose have already lost to him.) I am saying that these guys have the tools to defeat Fedor. For any one of these fighters to beat Fedor, they would have to execute their game plan to a tee. When you are facing a guy as dynamic as Fedor is, you cant make many mistakes. If one of these fighters does happen to fight Fedor, don't bet the house on the challenger, but maybe...just maybe if all the stars align right, someone can beat this man.

Josh Barnett
Josh Barnett is a tough style match up for anyone. His catch wrestling allows him to be a great wrestler from the top while at the same time always looking for a submission to win the fight. Josh Barnett would need to put Fedor on his back as soon as possible and keep him there for as long as possible. Barnett has really improved his stand up game but Fedor's striking style is a lot for anyone to handle.
Keys to Victory for Barnett
Put Fedor on his back and defend all of Fedor's submissions from the bottom.

Mark Hunt
Just as with any other fighter that came from a K-1 background, Mark Hunt was criticized for his lack of a ground game when he first got into MMA. Since then though, Mark Hunt has rounded out his game. Hunt's brand new ground game was on full display when he took on Fedor at PRIDE Shockwave 2006. When that fight hit the ground many people were suprised to see Hunt get on top and even attempt a submission or two. If Hunt's defense on the ground improves we could see him give Fedor a run. Hunt's best chance against Fedor would be on the feet. Any one of Hunt's punches has enough power to knock out Fedor.
Keys to Victory for Hunt
Turn this fight into a brawl, and try and land that one big, elusive knockout blow.

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
It doesn't take long for one to figure out how Cro Cop would have to beat Fedor. Left kick from hell! Just like any other match Cro Cop would have to keep this one standing and look to deliver the one kick to finish the fight. When these two first fought it was one of the most anticipated matches in all off MMA. Even with Cro Cop coming off the most devastating loss of his career, a second match with these two would deliver just as much build up as the first.
Keys to Victory for Cro Cop
Keep the fight on the feet Mix it up with kicks and punches and look for the knockout.

Randy Couture
When this list was first made I was a bit skeptical about putting Randy Couture on the list. Then I remembered what the critics were saying before the Tim Sylvia fight. The fact is that Randy Couture has a knack for pulling off things that no one expects him to. However a win over Fedor Emelianenko at this stage of his career seems unlikely but not impossible. His classical wrestling style has the potential to give Fedor fits on the ground.
Keys to Victory for Couture
Get on top of Fedor, and stay on top. Watch for submissions from the bottom.

Sergei Kharitonov
Many people around the world of MMA had Kharitonov pegged as the next man to challenge Fedor for the belt not to long ago. A devastating loss to the little brother of the champion hasn't helped his cause but I believe that he is still a threat to Fedor. Kharitonov has a extensive background in combat Sambo which should help him in a match against the master of Sambo. Kharitonov is also a very good traditional boxer which will help him against Fedor's wild, looping punches.
Keys to Victory for Kharitonov.
Use Sambo and boxing to neutralize Fedor's strengths

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Top 10 Fighters the UFC Need to Sign...NOW!

With the recent influx of PRIDE fighters into the UFC, there have definitely been some exciting fights and even more set to come in the future. However, there are still some fighters out there that White have yet to bring over to solidify the UFC as the top MMA organization, as far as talent goes. Here is my list of ten fighters not in the UFC, that includes WEC, I think White should definitely be going after for UFC's roster.

Fedor Emelianenko
Come on, the UFC need to grab Fedor already while he's still young. I have no interest in getting Fedor to the UFC five years down the line and watch young talent beat on him. The Fedor UFC deal has been so back and forth, I don't care what UFC president Dana White has to pay him, just pay the man what he wants and get him over here! I want it, the fans want it, the big man upstairs even wants it for his sake.

PRIDE's run out of competition to throw at Fedor, I mean, he's taken out everyone with the exception of Barnett. I'm sorry but I don't want to see another Fedor vs. Zulu again, that's just me. White's managed to snatch the majority of PRIDE's talent with Cro Cop, Noguiera, Herring, Filho (WEC), and "Shogun" Rua. Think of all the great possible matchups in the UFC, Emelianenko-Nog 4, Emelianenko-CC 2, Emelianenko-Couture, or how about, Emelianenko-ANY UFC HEAVYWEIGHT THEY THROW AT HIM.

Denis Kang
Now I know Denis Kang isn't the most popular fighter amongst the casual UFC fan but he has every right to be. Denis Kang is a damn exciting fighter. There's just something about him that catches my attention. Kang holds 27 wins in his fight record, composed of 15 submissions and 8 (T)KOs, pretty serious business if you ask me. I don't really know Kang's status as far as joining
the UFC, he was spotted in UFC lightweight Din Thomas' corner at UFC 71 - Liddell vs. Jackson, but who knows if that means anything. Kang is known mostly for his incredible explosiveness and well-rounded style of fighting, almost like Georges St. Pierre. Kind of reminds me of him too. Kang would be a solid addition to the UFC's middleweight division and would definitely pose a threat to any in that class. Kang is just in your face at all times and keeps the pressure on his
opponents. I think a fight against Anderson Silva and/or Rich Franklin could easily be dubbed as a "fight of the year."

Takanori Gomi
"The Fireball Kid" would definitely be a historical addition to the UFC's lightweight roster. BJ Penn's decision to remain a lightweight and Sean Sherk's growing popularity, the UFC's lightweight division can only further grow from here. With Gomi in the mix, it could make fights a lot more interesting. Penn actually scored a victory over Gomi back in 2003, but that would definitely be a rematch I'd like to see again. Gomi also knocked out Jens Pulver in 2004 at PRIDE's Shockwave 2004, a rematch between them would've been nice, though Pulver has recently moved to the WEC. I digress, my point is, Gomi has some solid talent, holds a current record of 27-3 and is still a pretty young guy with a bright future ahead of him.

Fantasy UFC matchups I'd stick around to see would be a rematch with Penn, Gomi-Sherk, and/or Gomi-Huerta. Haven't really heard any rumors or commotion about White making attempts to grab Gomi, but you never know. Let's just hope rumors arise sometime soon!

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto
"Kid" is an absolute ANIMAL in the ring. With 11 out of 15 wins ending in some way of knockout, he is DEFINITELY what drunk UFC want to see. "Kid" gained much popularity in Shooto for his aggressive, well-rounded and controversial persona. Yamamoto is considered to be a top lightweight fighter.

Yamamoto fights as a natural Featherweight @ 145 lbs. but has fought numerous lightweight fights @ 155 lbs., so I'm sure the transition wouldn't be too harsh on him.
I could most DEF. see "Kid" taking out Sean "The Muscle Shark," both possessing similar skills I see Kid taking the edge in the striking game and ultimately over Sherk. I think Yamamoto-Sherk would be an jaw-dropping fight through and through.

Wanderlei Silva
There is no need as to why the UFC should sign "The Axe Murderer." With a lethal combination of knees, punches, and kicks, there's so telling what Silva could bring to the UFC with elbows allowed. Wanderlei Silva would definitely be a nice addition to the light heavyweight division, although it would cause a bit of a conflict if Shogun ever was to hold the belt soon because Shogun stated in early interviews that he'd never fight Wanderlei Silva, though that may quickly change down the line.

With Silva in the picture, we could see a much needed rematch between him and Tito Ortiz, who LnP'd Silva for a decision in their first meeting. The fickleness of the Liddell-Silva fantasy matchup would have a stronger basis of happening and we could just see some bad ass action from Silva inside the Octagon.

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
Sokoudjou has certainly proved his skills and made a name for himself with his recent knockouts of Lil' Nog and Ricardo Arona. He definitely possess the skills to play with the big boys and now that he's actually looking for another organization to head to, I think White needs to step it up a notch and make sure he gets first dibs on Sokoudjou. There was actually news about Sokoudjou looking into the UFC, but he ended up not liking some things with the contract and he recently turned down EliteXC.

Nonetheless, White needs to work out the kinks in the contract that Sokoudjou doesn't like and bring him to the UFC. Sokoudjou is extremely talented and is well versed on his feet and was also the 2001 Open Judo competition.

Ricardo Arona
Yeah, Arona hasn't done much recently other than pounding Alistair Overeem's face in at PRIDE's Final Conflict Absolute back in '06, but the man still has some talent left in his tank. Arona holds a win over Wanderlei Silva, Kazushi Sakuraba, Jeremy Horn, PRIDE champion Dan Henderson and others. Arona is best recognized for his strength and considered by many to the best light heavyweights in MMA.

Though Arona has been shunned by many MMA fans for not trying to finish fight and rather settling for decision wins, I still think he'd be pretty exciting in the UFC.

Mark Hunt
Oh dear God, Mark Hunt is a must have in the UFC in my opinion. Hunt, the 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix champion, has most probably the most solid chin in MMA today. Hunt has also won K-1's 2001 Oceania GP and K-1's 2000 Oceania GP. Holding wins over Mirko "Cro Cop," Wanderlei Silva, and putting up a damn good fight against MMA God Fedor Emelianenko, I think Mark Hunt would definitely be a top contender in UFC's heavyweight division.
Hunt not only has a granite chin, that was able to take a CLEAN kick to the head from Cro Cop, he has world class striking abilities.

Hunt has showed the world what he's capable of Mark Hunt in his epic battle with K-1 top kickboxer Ray Sefo, where the two Samoans had one of the greatest fights in history to date. Also, in another battle Hunt faced Fedor in PRIDE Shockwave 2006, where he controlled Emelianenko most of the fight and was even able to counter what looked to be a threatening armbar. Hunt would be a major threat to every current UFC heavyweight I could think of. I would love to see Hunt crush Tim Sylvia. But then again, I'd love to see anyone crush Tim Sylvia, thanks Couture!

Great possible matchups with Hunt would include: Hunt-Sylvia, Hunt-CC rematch, Hunt-Monson, Hunt-Arlovski, and Hunt-Nogueira.

Josh Barnett
Josh Barnett needs to come BACK to the UFC. Barnett was the youngest UFC heavyweight champion after he defeated current UFC HW champion Randy couture, in early 2002. Barnett holds wins over Rodrigo Nogueira, Semmy Schilt, Randy Couture, and Dan Severn. Barnett was also a runner-up in PRIDE's 2006 World OWGP, but ultimately lost to Mirko "Cro Cop."
Now that PRIDE is on a rapid decline, I think it's time for Barnett to hop back on the UFC bandwagon and give his try at becoming the UFC heavyweight champion for the second time.

Cung Le
Cung Le brings a unique style to any organization he fights in. A San Shou kickboxing world competitor, Le brings to MMA a new style of striking. Le has the wildest Kung-Fu esque kicks you couldn't even imagine. Combining crisp punching, spinning back kicks, backward axe kicks, Le has won all his 4 MMA fights by way of knockout. Le also holds a 3-0 record in K-1 competitions.

Although many critics wonder if Cung Le has what it takes on the ground, he has shown impressive takedowns in his San Shou matches. Le has yet to have to take any fight to the ground, quickly dominating most of his opponents on the feet in the first round.
Cung Le currently fights for Strikeforce but, I'm sure Dana White could easily mold his future to the UFC with the help of some green paper.

I'm sure all MMA fans wouldn't mind seeing Cung Le and current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva square off in the Octagon!

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