One of the questions UFC President Dana White knows he's always going to get, everywhere he goes, is whether he'll sign the consensus best heavyweight in MMA, Fedor Emelianenko. But at a pre-UFC 99 question-and-answer session with UFC fans, White got a different question: Would he sign Fedor's next opponent, Josh Barnett?
White told the fan that he'd absolutely sign Barnett if Barnett beats Fedor.
"If Josh Barnett beats Fedor, obviously I'd be interested in signing Josh Barnett," White said. "If he beat Fedor, obviously, he's one of the best in the world."
Barnett has a long and contentious history with the UFC. He fought five times in the UFC in 2001 and 2002, beating Randy Couture to win the UFC heavyweight title in his fifth fight with the organization. But Barnett was suspended when he tested positive for steroids after the Couture fight, and he spent the next four years fighting in Japan.
Still, White is a businessman and a fight promoter, and he knows that if Barnett beats Fedor, bringing him back would be a smart business move that would create some great fights. The UFC's best chance of getting the undisputed heavyweight champion of MMA into the Octagon is to have Barnett upset Fedor.
Note: White also said he's interested in signing heavyweight Alistair Overeem. You can watch the full Q&A here.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
NO one cares about Josh Barnett. People don't want to hear about how you can't sign Fedor. No more excuses, just give him the money, let him do his Sambo thing, and get the deal done. End of story.
Wouldn't the UFC like to have someone who could beat Fedor. If the Fritatas (sp) and White wern't so greedy they could easily do a cross promotion; then we could see the best HWs fight. Greed makes people so stupid.
Fedor is going to sub Barnett no later than the 2nd round, although i think it will happen in the first. unless Barnett actually stands with Fedor, then Fedor knocks him out.