Can Josh Barnett Be Famous in America?

by Luke Thomas on Jul 11, 2008 2:13 PM EDT in MMA News

Josh_barnett_with_kop_belt_medium Affliction hopes so, and that's their plain. To wit:

Tom Atencio, vice president for Affliction, recognizes that Barnett has beaten a number of MMA superstars, yet remains anonymous to the new generation of MMA fans because of fighting in Asia the last few years.

One of my goals is to make Josh famous. He fought Randy Couture. He deserves recognition here," Atencio said during a conference call. "When he fights in Japan everybody knows him there."

Outside of Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano, there really aren't any other major MMA stars that aren't products of the UFC machine. And that's a tragedy because Barnett has everything it takes to be marketable as a major star: aggressive style, well-rounded abilities, the ability to do interviews on camera/radio and pro-wrestling showmanship (remember, Barnett has done pro-wrestling in Japan).

But there's absolutely zero chance he'll ever end up with the UFC. He and Dana absolutely loathe one another and Barnett realizes he can always be popular and have a lucrative career in Japan. But as for Affliction's aims, it will be a real test of their penetration into this market if they turn one of the best, most marketable fighters into a legitimate MMA star. Let that serve as a very real and necessary litmus test.

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Nope.

Kelvin Hunt

I'm like those boyz on the sidelines...cause I ain't playing...

by Tha Realness on Jul 11, 2008 3:36 PM EDT reply actions

Wrong.

by FRANKIE on Jul 11, 2008 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

“And that’s a tragedy because Barnett has everything it takes to be marketable as a major star: aggressive style, well-rounded abilities, the ability to do interviews on camera/radio and pro-wrestling showmanship”

Barnett has the face of an office worker and the physique to match. He’s not the next Kimbo or Carano. He’ll have the same image issues as Sylvia.

by ResidentGoon on Jul 11, 2008 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

Am I the only one who thinks Barnett has star potential?

by Luke Thomas on Jul 11, 2008 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

It would be VERY hard to convince a lot of people that Barnett is the toughest man in the world. They would take one look at him and think “yeah, right”.

The baby-face, the pudgy physique, lack of any “genetic freak” abilities (strength, speed, etc)... His image is even worse than Fedor’s.

by ResidentGoon on Jul 11, 2008 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

It’s not that he doesn’t possess the skill…Josh just doesn’t know when to keep his mouth closed….nor does he fight in the UFC…the only opponent he could fight and beat…and receive notoriety for it at this point is Arlovski. Nobody knows who Fedor is or his brother…nobody wants to see Tim Sylvia fight(that could change if he KTFO Fedor though) so without the UFC hype machine and the exposure that only the UFC brings…I just don’t see it.

Kelvin Hunt

I'm like those boyz on the sidelines...cause I ain't playing...

by Tha Realness on Jul 11, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

n

no luke i really believe he will get his moment in the sun soon

by jojoblue on Jul 23, 2008 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Marketable Star, Great Fighting Style = 100 percent chance of returning...

I do not know the history between Barnett and Whitee, I can guess is it similar to White and Tito. I do not care what you say, when it comes to money, pay-per view draws, you can bet Josh Barnett will be back in the UFC. Josh even said it himself, if it is good for business, differences will be put aside. Remember, Lorenzo is in charge.

by The Bronzeville Bully on Jul 11, 2008 4:05 PM EDT reply actions

Honestly, I’ve never really had an opinion of Barnett. I mean, I can see he’s a good fighter, but really, if he disappeared, I probably would never notice. He’s just always seemed… bland.

by pud333 on Jul 11, 2008 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

this is exactly what I was saying

by ResidentGoon on Jul 11, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Dana White doesn’t like Barnett because Barnett used anabolic steroids and that’s why Barnett lost his belt.

The baby face (steroid face) assassin Josh Barnett.

by CaptainAmerica1967 on Jul 11, 2008 4:25 PM EDT reply actions

It’s a lot more complicated than that. Plenty of UFC fighters have been busted for steroids (including those who won the belt, e.g. Sylvia) and he doesn’t have contentious relationship with them.

by Luke Thomas on Jul 11, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

They also agreed to take giant pay cuts, something Josh refused to do.

by N. Rodriguez on Jul 11, 2008 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Josh will fight in the UFC and Dana wants him to, but Josh doesn’t like that he wouldn’t be able to do pro wrestling. That’s what kept him from signing after PRIDE was bought, remember?

by N. Rodriguez on Jul 11, 2008 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

Affliction Banned on CBS

http://mmamatrat.com/blog/?p=30

GO FOR THE NOKOUT NOT THE TAPOUT!

by kazja13 on Jul 11, 2008 5:59 PM EDT reply actions

Josh Barnett the next big thing?

I don’t know… I like Barnett. I think he’s pretty interesting during a fight (remember his last fight against Big Nog?), and his physical image is NOT as bad as Fedor’s.

I never knew he and White were at odds, but I doubt that would be a problem. White has dealt with Ortiz in the past though there were issues – I bet he wouldn’t refuse to even address this. It’s also a great point that Lorenzo is in the mix now.

I think the UFC HW division is pretty bland right now – I’d love to see Barnett go in and shake up the likes of Mir, Herring, even Lesnar and maybe Vera…

by mmac on Jul 11, 2008 6:01 PM EDT reply actions

Three words

Pro Wrestling fans

by RoyalB on Jul 11, 2008 6:12 PM EDT reply actions

I think it’s possible for Barnett to be a star in the U.S. The heavyweight picture here is in turmoil to the point that it sucks. He’s easily one of the top guys. His problem is Affliction. I have very little faith in them propelling anyone to stardom. Their upcoming card is pretty impressive, but I doubt it’s going to do very well. So to be a star in America, Barnett will have to find his way back to the the UFC, or hook up with an emerging promotion that’s run well and has some sort of TV deal. I’m pretty sure that promotion is not Affliction.

by Cannon Jacques on Jul 11, 2008 7:03 PM EDT reply actions

I think that everyone is in agreement that although Barnett has skills, he won’t get much recognition because UFC has the American MMA market cornered. Barnett held a UFC belt, but that was before it was popular. If you mention PRIDE to anyone who has become an MMA fan in the last 3 years, they don’t know what youre talking about…the casual fan won’t know who Barnett is, has never heard of Fedor etc. if and when MMA starts having cross promotional matches, that’s when we will start to see people like Barnett become more popular. Cross promotion is the next step this sport needs to take in order to grow.

by Cmad77 on Jul 12, 2008 9:46 AM EDT reply actions