Strikeforce in Talks With Josh Barnett
by Anton Tabuena on Jan 9, 2010 1:03 AM EST
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Roger Huerta has said that he is already in talks with Strikeforce, and while nothing was final, he seemed optimistic that it will happen. He isn't the only big-named free agent Strikeforce in talks with though. MMAWeekly says that the promotion is also negotiating with former top heavyweight fighter, Josh Barnett:
Sources put Barnett in the midst of ongoing negotiations with Strikeforce, but like Huerta, the two sides have yet to reach agreement on compensation.
Signing Barnett could be huge for Strikeforce, as they are steadily building a decent heavyweight division around the No. 1 Heavyweight fighter in Fedor Emelianenko. There might be some hurdles they would have to go through for this to happen though. Barnett still hasn't cleared up his issues with the CSAC for the positive steroid test he had last year and is still not licensed to compete in the state.
While Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem are already lining up for a shot at Fedor, Strikeforce could piggy back on the marketing that the failed Affliction 'Trilogy' card had by setting up the 'dream match' between the two. It maybe long overdue, but people, especially the hardcores, would still be interested in it. That's if Barnett stays clean of course.
To add: While I've always thought that Barnett was grossly overpaid, and even a bit overrated these past few years, I still think this could be a good opportunity for Strikeforce. Josh's current situation limits his other options, making Strikeforce have a chance to sign him at a bargain price. That way, it lessens the risk, and also provides us with a number of interesting potential match ups against the likes of Brett Rogers, Antonio Silva, Alistair Overeem, and as mentioned earlier, even Fedor.
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Curious as to why you say moderate reward?
"I fight because I can’t sing, I can’t dance, and it beats working all day. Now ask me a question that doesn’t sound so fucking stupid." – Phil Baroni
What’s the big payoff, then? If that’s worth arguing and all..
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
Fedro fight?
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
Can't be.
That’s a one and done – Fedro kicks Barney’s ass in whatever testing-free environement they can find (Florida?) or else Barney suplexes the whole organization into oblivion with another piss test.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
I think it all boils down on how much strikeforce pays for him
he’s failed drugtests, and his rep has taken a huge hit… If strikeforce overpays, that would be a huge waste of money… But if he gets him at a new bargain price (his stock has gone down obviously), that would still be a quality signing for them.
That’s the key I think. If they don’t overpay, a Josh Barnett in their roster would still be a really good addition for them…
by Anton Tabuena on Jan 9, 2010 1:52 AM EST up reply actions
And don't get me wrong,
He was grossly Grossly overrated and overpaid throughout the years, but he’d still be a good pick up for SF, who only had buentello a few years back..
by Anton Tabuena on Jan 9, 2010 1:55 AM EST up reply actions
I think a free Barnett could still do more bad than good. Fighter salaries shouldn’t break a promotions back. When that’s happening, they have other problems. Barnett is malignant.
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
by Blackout612 on Jan 9, 2010 1:57 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
True, but that's why I said
That if they get him at a bargain price, he’d be a quality signing.. (and that’s assuming he stays clean, and SF only decides to get him after issues with CSAC are resolved)
by Anton Tabuena on Jan 9, 2010 2:02 AM EST up reply actions
Also
Assuming he stays clean? How can you know before he fights?
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
I/we won't know.
and yes, he’s potentially hazardous, but all I was saying is that IF they get him cheap, and IF he doesn’t test positive, he’d be good for SF…
by Anton Tabuena on Jan 9, 2010 2:22 AM EST up reply actions
Josh Barnett and clean shouldnt even be in the same sentance
Barnett obviously doesnt know how to stay clean or else he wouldnt have pissed hot on 3 seperate occassions.
“Josh Barnett and clean shouldnt even be in the same sentance”
You just did it twice.
by ufc4 on Jan 9, 2010 9:29 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Strikeforce is definitely going after many quality fighters outside of the UFC. They haven’t picked up the Thales Leites’ or Tamdan McCrory’s, and a couple other former UFC fighters, but they are trying to get the best fighters not in the UFC like Manhoef, Zaromskis, etc. Outside of testing clean, Barnett is actually a quality Heavyweight, and Strikeforce can definitely use any good Heavyweight out there. Roger Huerta makes sense because he looks like he can hang with Melendez and Thomson.
Huerta is a PHENOMENAL pickup
Super underrated, extremely marketable, puts on exciting fights.. Biggest UFC-convert get, in my mind, should he sign.
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
Damn straight. In several ways, Huerta is bigger for Strikeforce than Henderson.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito Ortiz on Vitor Belfort at Affliction:DOR
Yep
Very much so. I love them both, but Huerta is a ratings/buy getter.
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
Huerta hasn't signed with anybody. MMAJunkie has a story on it.
UFC can still match offers until November. Yup, his contract has a match clause for a year. I told you guys.
by snakecharmer1340 on Jan 9, 2010 1:56 AM EST up reply actions
Lol are the one that comments on junkie under the handle “snakechamer?” Glad to see you spelled it right this time
Get 4-0'd. <---- If you dont know what im talking about its time for you to play more Modern Warfare 2
by II SMASH II on Jan 9, 2010 3:42 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
haha. Yeah. haha.
Total accident but I didn’t feel like going through the join process again. haha. Shoot me.
by snakecharmer1340 on Jan 9, 2010 3:53 AM EST up reply actions
Thought I recognized it. I haven’t commented over there since they banned havok because its just not as fun anymore. Arguing with someone so far seperated from reality was a blast lol
Get 4-0'd. <---- If you dont know what im talking about its time for you to play more Modern Warfare 2
by II SMASH II on Jan 9, 2010 4:15 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
What did you post under? They now delete post really quick at Junkie.
After they got the MMA award, they’re on some crusade. Kinda lame actually. It’s not fun to post there anymore.
by snakecharmer1340 on Jan 9, 2010 4:24 AM EST up reply actions
Something similar to this since its my xbox live gt. But I can’t remember exactly. Its been probably 6-8 months since I’ve commented there
Get 4-0'd. <---- If you dont know what im talking about its time for you to play more Modern Warfare 2
by II SMASH II on Jan 9, 2010 4:38 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Unless Huerta
become champion. If Roger cleans out his weight class and holds the belt the UFC looks more dominant. Coker needs Huerta to lose and lose bad.
Err...
This guy didn’t even land on Leland’s top heavyweight FA list, because he’s universally hated (which doesn’t make him a heel— it means fighters hate him), he’s overrated as a talent (modern day) and he’s unreliable on a televised card (given his drug issues). SF needs more reliable fighters, not guys like Barnett (/Diaz, DREAM-only fighters, et al). I’m nearly tempted to fighter bash, but I won’t. This guy took a lot of food off of a lot of tables. This seems like a pretty unpopular maneuver and I personally hope Barnett never fights in the US again.
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
by Blackout612 on Jan 9, 2010 12:09 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
And wasn’t he listed as the top free agent on that list?
by John Nash on Jan 9, 2010 1:14 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
More money being shelled out and still not very much coming in. I think we have seen this before. First comes Fedor then comes the other fighters then comes bankruptcy
"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar
One does have to wonder where Strikeforce is getting their money
I can guess that Strikeforce is getting some of their money from Showtime, and that their open contracts probably help negotiations and possibly help pay fighters less. Unfortunately, there isn’t any reports out there as far as their finances, so it is all assumption. I can gues that they may be in the ‘red,’ and like any business, be in debt but turn it around in the future, but it’s only a guess. The saving grace for Strikeforce is that they look to be building prospects through the Challengers Series, and they look to be filling out their roster, so there is this idea that they are building for the long-term unlike an Affliction or EliteXC.
Strikeforce will never be the UFC, in the minds of the casual sports fan mma isnt a sport its ultimate fighting and the UFC is already the NFL of mma
also many many people have no idea who fedor is yea sure his fight on cbs may have helped his cause a little but he has done nothing since and has quickly slipped out of the mind of the casual fan hes never featured on sportscenter and when any news outlet reports on mma they talk about dana white and brock
i sadly see SF goin down i think they’re biting off more than they an chew with their recent acquisitions and i really dont understand where all of their money comes from elite xc bankrupted with a cbs deal and SF has many more quality fighters (and paychecks) than that organization did with no much more exposure
I’ve made it very clear in other posts that Strikeforce will always be number 2 and never even get close to the UFC.
I personally don’t see Strikeforce going down though unless I start seeing reports of real trouble. We can say that they are biting off more than they can chew, but I haven’t actually seen how they are. They need to build up their roster with the amount of shows that they plan on doing and the resources that they have, and fighters not in the UFC, who can’t get signed with the UFC for whatever reason, are generally going to gravitate towards Strikeforce seeing that they are number two and the next best option.
I don’t understand why SF would take a risk with Barnett. At least at this time. His last big win was over three years ago and he carries a fair amount of baggage with him. After the Diaz fiasco, do they really want to sign another high profile fighter with a history of drug-related problems?
A fair amount of baggage? Barnett carries more baggage than Paris Hilton taking a month long trip to Mars.
by ufc4 on Jan 9, 2010 9:37 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Strikeforce would be better off with a Rogers rematch.
Keep firing Assholes!
"If all else fails immortality can always be assured by spectacular error." - John Galbraith
Well
People are talking about possibilities like Fedro has six fights on his deal.
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
so let me get this straight
fights in the UFC and fails a drug test
fights in Pride and fails a drug test
fights in Affliction and fails a drug test
but somehow it is a good idea for an American mma organization to sign this guy?
I’m guessing the main reasoning behind this is to try and keep Fedor interested. I mean literally after Werdum they have nobody right now.
Let’s assume that they can get Overeem to return and a date set and no injuries or problems then Barnett, praying he can stay clean, and then what 1)either hope that a guy like Lashley, Del Rasario, or someone else emerges as a contender, 2) rematch him with 1 of his many past opponents like an Arlovski or Rogers assuming they can string together some wins, or 3) Hope that Hendo can beat Shields and Mousasi and beat them rather impressively and then hope he will agree to move to hw to fight Fedor.
When did he fail a drug test while fighting in Pride? I’ve never heard about that.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.
My apologies
I thought I had read somewhere that he had failed the Pride 32 drug tests but now it looks like that was his opponent.
After doing some research I guess Josh Barnett tested positive at UFC 34 but was let off with a warning but then failed a test again at UFC 36 after beating Couture.
http://www.cagepotato.com/mma-steroid-busts-definitive-timeline
That's right Affliction was Showtime PPV
but what now Showtime is gonna be cool with Strikeforce signing the guy who probably cost them at least a decent amount of money.
Say it ain’t so Strikeforce!!!!!!!
Talk about asking for trouble. 3 strikes you out? Guess not.
Barnett is bad news bears.
by snakecharmer1340 on Jan 9, 2010 1:20 AM EST reply actions
Isn’t his hearing with the Athletic Commision still kind of in progress? No point in signing a guy until you know WHEN he can fight.
I wonder if they can structure a special contract with mandated bloodtests like every week throughout his training camp, just so he wouldn’t be tempted to cheat? If they could pull a really special contract that’d be good. Otherwise, send him to Japan…
Strikeforce should hopefully be getting Barnett at a huge discount due to the fact that Barnett really doesn’t have that many options, so i really don’t think the money in this situation is a big deal
I really think that they need to square away the entire situation with CSAC before anything is signed though. It’s not common, but if I was in charge of SF I’d make Barnett get his California license 100% squared away before signing him. It doesn’t matter that the fight isn’t planned yet and we don’t even know if it’s going to be CA, but it’s really the only way to show that the situation is completely resolved.
True.
A cheapo barnett would be a decent signing… (If he fixes his CSAC issues and stays clean.)
by Anton Tabuena on Jan 9, 2010 1:57 AM EST up reply actions
Josh Barnett uses steroids and I don’t like him.
I dislike Matt Hughes. Shogun beat him like a dirty horse.
by MonkeyCHops on Jan 9, 2010 2:15 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
How concise!
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
I prefer something a bit more unfounded and inflamatory.
by ufc4 on Jan 9, 2010 11:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
he wont get licensed
hes pissed dirty twice he’ll have alot of trouble having an athletic commision license him, gilbert yvel had trouble recently cause of his behavior a few years ago, barnett tested positive 5 months ago no one in their right mind would license him
I hope he never fights again.
How can anyone be excited to see Barnett fight again? He’s a repeated cheater. I don’t know if it’s a culturual thing with americans being more forgiving towards their athletes that takes PEDs? MMA should be like all the olympic sports that has WADA testing for them.. If you test positive once you get a two year suspension and if you test positve twice your banned for life.
by Pontus on Jan 9, 2010 3:32 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
The problem with that is that there’s no governing body to enforce sanctions. You can piss hot in the UFC all you want – and still get fights in Japan, for example. The same thing with Babalu refusing to break the choke or Yvel KOing the ref – it’s irrelevant because there’s no one to implement or enforce sanctions – the fighters can just go somewhere else to fight.
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Jan 9, 2010 7:22 AM EST up reply actions
The Truth
It is my understanding that Josh could get his license Monday if he is clean. There is no sanctions on him by the CSAC . His only beef with the CSAC is the testing proceedure. I think there is alot more to it than we will ever know. Affliction goes belly up over 1 fight? The UFC & Afflication are super buddies again? something really stinks!
I will watch this fight
The same way I watched Barry Bonds go for the home run record. With doubt, skepticism, and with the hope that he doesn’t reach his goal.
"I will do nothing lightly. When I walk, I will walk heavily. When I fight, I will fight with conviction. When I speak, I will speak strongly. When I love, I will love with everything"
Here's the problem
If you sign Josh Barnett, even if he passes his tests, people will still just assume he’s using steroids (I know I would). What good does it do you to have a fighter ripping through your HW division if nobody trusts the guy?
by ufc4 on Jan 9, 2010 9:44 AM EST via mobile reply actions
If they care enough about MMA to know who he is then they’ll know he tested positive, if they don’t know who he is then what’s the point of having him? I mean he’s not like Dan Henderson who has been headlining UFC cards the last couple years, a lot of casual fans won’t even know the name.
by ufc4 on Jan 9, 2010 11:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
“even if he passes his tests, people will still just assume he’s using steroids (I know I would).”
BUT I THOUGHT THE TESTING PROCESS WORKED?
Not saying this as though you personally have claimed otherwise, but plenty of people seem to think it’s unfathomable that fighters are dirty and the only ones who are, are the ones who get caught.
BOOSH
True
People tend to believe that dirty fighters are dirty because, well, they’ve been caught and publicly tarred and feathered. Guys that have tested dirty once, or once under sketchy circumstances (Sherk, Bigfoot, et al) sometimes get the benefit of the doubt, but people generally assume that anyone that hasn’t been popped yet isn’t guilty of abuse. Though, isn’t that fair?
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
I am way too cynical
I assume they are all dirty whether they test clean or not. Except Lashley’s next opponent – no way he has juiced.
BOOSH
Barnett couldn’t beat Fedor with steroids and a machete.
by ufc4 on Jan 9, 2010 11:18 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Why is there no flaming of Royce Gracie?
Or Ken Shamrock, Kimo (twice), Sean Sherk, Stephen Bonnar (also a main event, just happened after), the list could go on of people who have tested positive. Is it because, as much as some people might not want to admit it, Barnett is a legit contender?
I understand Barnett has had really poor judgement but is all this hate really necessary, especially when other fighters aren’t dragged through the mud as much as Barnett? Especially when one of his opponents, Pawel Nastula (that lost to him) tested positive as well?
Sure, he screwed over Affliction big time. But the way I see it, this could have happened to anyone. Of course, this doesn’t excuse what he did, but I think by just the number of people that have been caught we can assume that a lot more people are taking PED’s than we know about.
As much as MMA wants to become heralded and recognized as a pro sport, I think one thing they have in common now is rampant drug use.
Barnett’s name probably gets dragged through the mud more because he’s failed more tests than anyone else.
Your list is sort of a joke, Shamrock and Kimo are irrelevant to the mma picture, positive or no positive test they are jokes, and sherk got it pretty rough in the immediate aftermath of his positive test (just like barnett is getting now) but that was 2 years and 3 fights ago.
Plus..
Barnett murdered Affliction.
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
Me in previous post:
Sure, he screwed over Affliction big time. But the way I see it, this could have happened to anyone. Of course, this doesn’t excuse what he did, but I think by just the number of people that have been caught we can assume that a lot more people are taking PED’s than we know about.
How ridiculous
That’s like saying because there’s been a severe rash of armed burglaries in Baltimore, because your cousin got arrested and charged with felony assault and armed robbery, it’s not a big deal— anyone could have got caught that night!
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
If the CSAC had the decency to wait until he had finished his cycle before testing him we wouldn’t be in this mess.
by John Nash on Jan 9, 2010 1:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I’m not defending Barnett, keyboard warriors.
I said he had very poor judgment. I said he screwed over Affliction big time. He will (obviously) never live that down.
My point is, a lot of others have been caught too and more people are doing it as well whether we, as fans and spectators, like it or not or want to admit it. It doesn’t matter their “relevance” as MMA contenders or not. The fact of the matter is, MMA fighters are using PED’s. Just like boxers and in baseball, football, basketball etc.
That’s not a point.
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
Well maybe I’ll try this since it seemed to work earlier…
Barnett does roids, but others do (alot) as well, so I still like Barnett.
That’s not a reason.
Are you trying to say if he was the only one doing roids, you wouldn’t like him, but do as others do? I mean, you can like Barnett despite the fact that he’s a promotion tanking druggie, but I don’t see a lot of sense in convincing anyone else of it. I let him ride on the first one, but this last one took a lot money out of fighter’s pockets. You surmise that it doesn’t mean anything because it was a matter of chance that he would be in the main event of Affliction’s most marketed card— a card that was clearly a matter of life and death— and that he wasn’t cycled off when the CSAC surprised him with a piss test and he pissed dirty? That poor bastard… Is there a charitable Paypal account I can bust my fiscal loan into? He needs better stuff…
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
Wow, I said numerous times that I’m not sticking up for him. Of course he was not smart by any means, but other people juice and just have not had their actions cause that severe of an outcome yet.
Stephen Bonnar tested positive for his main event match with Forest Griffin, just it was after he fought.
What if Royce Gracie tested positive before his rematch with Sakuraba instead of after? Or, since he probably was doing steroids in the past, what if he tested before he fought Sakuraba the first time?
What if?
Who cares? And just saying “I’m not defending him” doesn’t change the fact. I’m not arguing with you.. Only, I’m totally arguing with you.
Blackout612- "Wuts teh UFC?"
Ubernoober- "It like two guy who just stand and swing for fence and try to knock each other shit out it awesome"
Well, Gracie didn’t test positive then so it doesn’t matter. And nobody gives a shit about Ken Shamrock anymore. But a lot of people gave a shit about the Affliction card that Barnett single handedly destroyed costing several fighters tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars and robbing MMA fans of one of the most important heavyweight matchups of the last several years. Your line of what ifs and pointless comparisons to other less important fighters who tested positive has absolutely no bearing on the discussion of Josh Barnett’s past test failures.
by ufc4 on Jan 9, 2010 11:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I hope Strikeforce doesn’t over reach here. I like having the extra fights on Showtime. I am afraid they are going down the Affliktion path to doom/gloom/bankrupt. I wish someone would start a promotion and be comfortable with being #2. I get to see more fighters and more fights that way.
Strikeforce should have slowly built its stable of fighters and just waited in the wings. Coker should have stayed in the background, letting UFC have the spotlight and strengthen his promotion in the shadows. If the UFC were to make a misstep in the future they could capitalize on it.
I guess what I am saying is, if your a spider monkey don’t piss off the 800lb gorilla in the room. But if you are a 600lb gorilla and the 800lb gorilla is asleep, by all means, make your move.
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