UFC heavyweight Josh Barnett will grapple Roberto ‘Cyborg’ Abreu May 9 at Metamoris 6 and wants to fight Roy Nelson, but it’s his loss to Travis Browne he’s most worked up about.
A pro since 1997 and a veteran of 40 official bouts, Barnett says it’s becoming more difficult to find matchups that interest him.
While he feels he was able to settle a bit of a score when he TKO’d former heavyweight champion Frank Mir at UFC 164, Barnett says he just wasn’t motivated going into his UFC 168 bout with Travis Browne in December 2013. He hasn’t fought since.
“I wasn’t into my last fight, to be honest,” Barnett told UFC commentator Joe Rogan. “I didn’t care. I just wasn’t ‘up’ for it. I trained and it got to a point where I was just like, ‘I’m over this. Who is [Travis Browne]? If I beat him, what does that do? Then I get to fight another guy and another guy? Where am I going with this?’ I’m not going to climb this f***ing ladder to prove that I deserve to fight for a title. I can fight for a title against anyone in any league, anywhere, anytime. F***in’, I’m a world championship level guy.
“I don’t need to prove that I belong here. I fought ‘Travis Browne’s‘ all my career. They just had a different name at a different point in life. They had the same type of skillset. They’re basically the same type of guy. There will be another Travis Brown when Travis Browne is done being Travis Browne.”
Barnett isn’t focused exclusively on contendership level fights, but says he needs to fight only when he’s properly motivated.
Admitting he ‘didn’t care’ heading into the fight with Browne, Barnett says a rematch would be a different story.
“Here’s the difference,” said Barnett. “If I fought Travis now, I’d want to take his f***ing head off. He disrespected me in the ring after the match, all this s**t. He f***ing cut his throat, he did all this stuff. That’s my thing. He did it to mock me for winning.
“I’m just like, ‘Dude, I’ve been nice to you and respectful to you from day one. You go ahead and get a win on me, great, this is your moment to say what you want to say and what you want to do is try to f***in’ put me down after you win?”
Barnett says he also didn’t care for how ‘dismissive’ Browne was of him during post-fight interviews.
“Me? I don’t have any reason to be a f***ing prick, especially after I win. But, you know what, a guy wins, he feels like he’s on top of the world, that’s when you’re going to say some s**t like that, when you’re going to act out.
“If that’s the way it’s going to be, awesome. If we rematch it’s not going to be the same dude you fought that night. You have no idea. You really don’t get it. You will get your ass handed to you because now you gave me a reason to want to kick your ass.”
Saying he doesn’t believe Browne has what it takes to ever be a UFC champion, Barnett says he knows exactly how to exploit the holes in ‘Hapa’s’ game.
“For one, I would make him pay for all the big mistakes he makes all the time,” said Barnett. “He’s constantly whiffing, throwing the biggest shot. That kid has no stamina because he will always go for the kill in everything he does. Now, that makes him very dangerous to a heavyweight, because he’s athletic and has some power. But that’s why [Fabricio Werdum] took him out. He’s missing with all his big s**t and he’s getting picked apart and picked apart and hung on and hung on and grabbed and separated and picked apart.
“I mean, why is Werdum beating you on the feet? He’s trying to swing for the fences constantly. That’s why he’s gassed in every one of his big fights. Any fight that’s got any distance to it, he’s gassed. Why? Because that’s the type of fighter he is. Does that make him a bad fighter? Not necessarily. I would say it doesn’t. It’s just, that’s who he is. But that’s also why I think he will never be a UFC champion because there’s a finesse that he doesn’t possess.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Five more years. Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva says he plans to fight next year and for years to come. ‘I already have my schedule for the next five years. If we can fight more, two or three times a year, it’s better.’
‘If there is a time, it is probably now.’ Former UFC champion Randy Couture says MMA fighters need a union.
‘This is bulls**t.’ UFC women’s bantamweight contender Bethe Correia receives death threats after being involved in a street fight in Rio de Janeiro.
‘Stay at featherweight.’ UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has some advice for Conor McGregor.
Super. Ben Fodor talks about the rise of Phoenix Jones, fighting crime and leaving a legacy in MMA. ‘Because when it’s all done, my life is so awkward and so weird that if I don’t accomplish something great, I’m just another crazy person.’
MEDIA STEW
UFC 189 world tour embedded episodes 6 and 7.
McGregor talks past thoughts of leaving MMA.
Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor have a weird, tense interview on OTR.
More vlogs from Cerrone’s BMF Ranch.
Justin Gaethje vs. Luis Palomino at WSOF 19.
Luke Thomas is still pissed.
Long watches.
…
TWEETS
Together again.
Have a nice sunday – JJ & Cookie Monster BF going to Gda?sk #fun #JJ #JoannaJedrzejczyk… http://t.co/jvJKW5vR24 pic.twitter.com/OBJ2WoddSO
— Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannamma) March 29, 2015
So much beef.
Horse meat hunger. The next… “Mole” @rondarousey …… #Repost fc_bethecorreia with… https://t.co/BpUEuAU56H
— Bethe (@bethecorreia) March 29, 2015
Hey @JonnyBones I’m looking for a @ufc fight, u wanna throw down??? One caveat, I get a baseball bat, ;-D…
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) March 28, 2015
Hey @ufc, #AnyoneAnytimeAnywhere I’m on a #VisionQuest…you really gotta feel me to catch what I’m saying… #TheOnceAndFutureKing
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) March 28, 2015
. @BensonHenderson need to fight someone relevant rather fight @Cowboycerrone or the Russian next….
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) March 29, 2015
@BensonHenderson were gonna fight don’t worry! No need to ask everyone. Ill be your huckleberry!! Just be ready when that date is set!!
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) March 29, 2015
.@FollowTheMenace sounds good, I’m trying to get it in asap…don’t worry tho, I’ll be ready when it’s time…@ufc two guys here ready to go
— Benson Henderson (@BensonHenderson) March 30, 2015
Hey @TheRock , tnx for picking up the tab at lunch. Next time send over desert you cheap prick.
— Chael Sonnen (@sonnench) March 29, 2015
@thefrankmir what are you doing this summer? You got plans for these dates yet? June 20th June 27th July 11th in free I’ll block them off
— Todd Duffee (@ToddDuffee) March 30, 2015
Smh. She better show up for the fight. That’s all I have to say. RT @RowdyBec @TalkMMA pic.twitter.com/YEG27ns9cx“
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) March 29, 2015
I stopped popping whiteheads at 16 “@ufceric: @danawhite I want to fight in the ufc and I be the first man to knockout @FrankieEdgar“
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) March 29, 2015
Oh well.
“@THEREALPUNK: @RossTheRealDeal @DiegoMaradobbn Ross, I love San Diego weather in July. Just an idea” Weather will be perfect for a fight
— Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) March 28, 2015
I’m gonna crush all your dreams fans… Joe Silva said he’s not interested in a fight between @RossTheRealDeal and myself. @ufc I tried!
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) March 29, 2015
Get well soon.
Wanna thank everyone for sending good vibes. Those close to me know this will only make me work harder! I have a new purpose. #familyman
— Paul Felder (@felderpaul) March 29, 2015
DO NOT LOOK.
Got a hole in my back so no training for a bit GRRRR injuries really sucks big floppy donkey doodle pic.twitter.com/Kb0NO86HrY
— Ben ‘Manimal’ Wall (@BenWallMMA) March 29, 2015
Staying busy while on vacation and injured. But it’s not often you get to train at Canelos gym…. https://t.co/BXBVRxmIFM
— Ryan Benoit (@BabyfaceBenoit) March 29, 2015
The good news is @lc_davis can get these teeth fixed or take up a new career in hockey! #Bellator135 pic.twitter.com/80xd0CjjES
— GOLRAWSport (@GOLRAWSport) March 28, 2015
Hadn’t heard.
3am in London watching @rondarousey kill it with @therock at Wrestlemania. pic.twitter.com/JZY3No2fo5
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 30, 2015
Congrats.
Congrats to @Benaskren and his wife who are expecting a baby…all Ben’s humping has finally paid off.” @ONEFCMMA @victoronefc @EvolveMMA
— phil baroni (@philbaroni) March 30, 2015
Got him again.
“@Big_Christy: @jessicaevileye HAHAHA pic.twitter.com/S22VhGeY4S“/ lmao !!!
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) March 29, 2015
Pretty good.
Another winner RT @ufcfighteredits: @lyotomachidafw vs @LukeRockhold #ufc edit pic.twitter.com/cb9FuNr70M
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) March 29, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (March 27-29 2015)
Paul Felder out, Beneil Dariush vs. Jim Miller at UFC on FOX 15
Johnny Case vs. Frank Trevino at UFC 188
Lance Palmer vs. Chris Horodecki at WSOF 21
cancelled Aisling Daly vs. Claudia Gadelha at UFC Fight Night: Cro Cop vs. Gonzaga
Aisling Daly vs. Randa Markos at UFC 186
Drew Dober vs. Efrain Escudero at UFC 188
Gabriel Benitez vs. Clay Collard at UFC 188
Jussier Formiga vs. Wilson Reis at UFC Fight Night: Alves vs. Condit
Wendell Oliveira vs. T.J. Waldburger at UFC Fight Night: Alves vs. Condit
Gasan Umalatov out, Mickael Lebout vs. Sergio Moraes at UFC Fight Night: Cro Cop vs. Gonzaga
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.