(photo via Esther Lin @Allelbows.com)
Former UFC heavyweight champ Josh “The Baby Faced Assassin” Barnett (26-5) will make his Strikeforce debut against Brett Rogers on April 9th, both men are competing against one another for a shot at the semi-finals for the Strikeforce Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament.
Many have been critical of the matchups saying that Barnett was placed in the easier bracket which includes Rogers, Sergei Kharitonov, and Andrei Arlovski (who was eliminated Saturday by Kharitonov).
In a recent interview with USAToday.com, Barnett noted that on paper it may seem like he’s got the easier time but “nobody knows how it’s going to turn out.”
I understand the perception. I see the paper trail that they would make people think that way.
The funny thing is, nobody knows how it’s going to turn out. I’m sure everyone thought Fedor would kill Brett Rogers in 10 seconds. That was a pretty knock-down, drag-’em out fight. Anything is possible with these guys. All of them are tough, and all of them have risen to the occasion at some point or other.
I like the fact that people think it’s the easy side of the bracket , that they think I’m going to mow through these guys. I think it’s great. I think I’m going to mow through them, but I think I’d mow through anybody. That’s the position that I’ve got to keep for me. The only thing to do is to go out there and fight the fights and try to make it look easy, I guess, if I can.
Hell, every other tournament I’ve been in, they’ve put me on the stacked side paper-wise. So forget it — I could deserve a break.
Barnett has won his last five fights, all with different organizations such as Sengoku, DREAM, Affliction, and Impact FC. Of his twenty-six victories 16 have come via submission, six via knockout, and just four by decision.