Josh Barnett – photo by Esther Lin for Strikeforce
Former UFC heavyweight champion Josh ‘The Warmaster’ Barnett (32-6) is set to return to the top promotion after he and the Ultimate Fighting Championship came to terms.
Barnett signed a multi-fight deal and is expected to return to the Octagon later this year after an eleven year plus absence.
News of Barnett’s signing was announced by MMAjunkie.com late Tuesday evening.
Barnett had been competing for Strikeforce, going 3-1, before that promotion folded and it’s fighters absorbed into the UFC. Barnett was not signed immediately as he and the top promotion could not come to terms on a contract.
‘The Warmaster’ was last inside the Octagon back in March 2002 at UFC 36 when he stopped Randy Couture via second round TKO to claim the UFC heavyweight title. After failing a post-fight drug test Barnett was stipped of the belt and released by the UFC.
The heavyweight would go on to compete for a number of other pomotions including Pride, Sengoku, Affliction and Dream before finding his way to Strikeforce to compete in the Grand Prix tournament.