Barnett: Brock fight would be huge business
Josh Barnett: “The UFC needs real interjection of some excitement in the heavyweight division … it needs more metal, man … I think somebody should shake it up…”
Former UFC heavyweight champion and professional wrestler Josh Barnett has not fought in 14 months. He appeared recently on Ariel Helwani‘s The MMA Hour and related who he would like to to fight – a former UFC heavyweight champion and professional wrestler named Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar’s WWE contract is up in the Spring and there have been various indications that he is intent on a return to the UFC.
“That would be huge business,” said Barnett as transcribed by Dave Doyle for MMAFighting.com. “It would be a great match to make happen.”
“I always put my voice out there in terms of wanting that fight. But then again, at this point, I think it just sounds like I’m joining the chorus of all these MMA heavyweight that have all, it’s kind of same thing as CM Punk, these guys are all out there running their mouths saying they want to beat Punk or beat Lesnar, because they think it’s an easy payday, because they think they see some lack of ability in their MMA game because of their not being fighters for their whole life. If they’re going to get out there and get that glory, and get the notoriety and get this guy, they see it as an easy shot.”
“For me I think of it as the business side of things. Not the business side of oh, I’m going to make so much money, but the business side of two pro wrestlers, the styles, seeing the two of us go out it is because people will find interest in it and the fight will be interesting itself. Not just in ‘Hey, I’m some guy who’s going to bully some other guy who’s got less experience, and then I act like I’m king s— of turd mountain.'”
“I don’t have anything locked in yet. The UFC, they’re planning a bazillion events every month. It’s just going to have to take a bit of time until they have an opponent for me and a set date. But we are in talks and we’re in constant connection. They’ll let me know as soon as we can get something going.
“I think the UFC needs real interjection of some excitement in the heavyweight division, and I bring that. Not only with word, but with action. It needs more metal, man. … I think somebody should shake it up, and it should be me.”