Where do you think Josh Barnett ranks as a UFC heavyweight

RalphWiggum · Post #1 » by **RalphWiggum** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:16 pm

I can't see Cain or JDS beating Barnett, I really believe he is at the top of his game now and is a nightmare match up for either fighter. Cain is an outstanding technical wrestler but I think if Barnett gets top position on him that the difference between collegiate wrestling and MMA wrestling are very different and will become very apparent. I don't think due to his age Josh has any chance at being dominant for years but I can't think of a HW in the UFC today that I would take over him.

SDM · Post #2 » by **SDM** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:30 pm

Instant contender, possible title holder. Not much has changed since he was last in the UFC.

REDDzone · Post #3 » by **REDDzone** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:49 pm

He'd be a contender but I think he'd have problems with guys with good defensive wrestling.

Posey H8er · Post #4 » by **Posey H8er** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:27 pm

i'd put JDS, Cain, Ubereem, and Brock over him, but i think Barnett has a solid chance to beat every other heavyweight in the world.

Post #5 » by **CPT** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:37 am

I think he's pretty competitive against everyone other than JDS and Velasquez. Fights against Lesnar and the Reem would be toss ups. I'd really like to see him fight Mir. Hell, Barnett vs. Roy Nelson would be kinda interesting too.

I hope he can play by the UFC's rules so we get to see those fights. Would be a real shame to miss out on all of those fights because he wants to do wrestling matches in Japan and/or fight Fedor.

Post #6 » by **kdawg32086** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:03 am

I got Barnett at the top. Great all-around fighter. If he stays off the juice, nobody can handle him.

K1NG · Post #7 » by **K1NG** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 7:14 am

I haven't been this excited about the HW division... ever.

High 5 · Post #8 » by **High 5** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 1:44 am

kdawg32086 wrote:If he stays off the juice, nobody can handle him.

SabasRevenge! · Post #9 » by **SabasRevenge!** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:15 am

Just below the top tier:
JDS, Cain, Brock, Overeem.

I think Barnett is hovering around Mir terriroty.

Mir's stuck as a guy who can beat anyone below him but nobody above him. I'd like to see Mir v. Barnett with the winner getting a #1 contender fight.

I get this sense that Barnett has really "figured out" MMA and how to simply not lose. He's a damn tricky load at this point. Who do you train with to prepare for him? Catch-wrestling gypsies?

Post #10 » by **CPT** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 3:38 am

Is everyone here assuming he beats Cormier?

I'm not. That's a close fight. If he loses, all of a sudden this 5 year win streak against guys like Brett Rogers and Geronimo Dos Santos isn't going to count for much.

K1NG · Post #11 » by **K1NG** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 9:26 am

CPT wrote:Is everyone here assuming he beats Cormier?

I'm not. That's a close fight. If he loses, all of a sudden this 5 year win streak against guys like Brett Rogers and Geronimo Dos Santos isn't going to count for much.

I think he'll edge him out with experience. I'm still looking forward to see if he is able to take him down. I think he will.

NZB2323 · Post #12 » by **NZB2323** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 5:17 pm

CPT wrote:I think he's pretty competitive against everyone other than JDS and Velasquez. Fights against Lesnar and the Reem would be toss ups. I'd really like to see him fight Mir. Hell, Barnett vs. Roy Nelson would be kinda interesting too.

I hope he can play by the UFC's rules so we get to see those fights. Would be a real shame to miss out on all of those fights because he wants to do wrestling matches in Japan and/or fight Fedor.

I know Fedor hasn't looked great lately, but I'd still love to see that fight.

REDDzone · Post #13 » by **REDDzone** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:10 pm

CPT wrote:Is everyone here assuming he beats Cormier?

I'm not. That's a close fight. If he loses, all of a sudden this 5 year win streak against guys like Brett Rogers and Geronimo Dos Santos isn't going to count for much.

As much mma as I have watched, I would say I have only seen 3-4 Barnett fights. In that limited amount, his standup looked pretty bad for a close-to-elite level guy. If he can't get Cormier to the ground, he has big, big problems.

edit: Out of curiosity, I checked and I have actually watched more like 6-8. Still, Cormier should have a pretty big edge on the feet I think.

Posey H8er · Post #14 » by **Posey H8er** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 8:23 pm

I would be really angry if Barnett won the GP and the following fight, and was NOT merged into the UFC. Hell even if he only won 1 of the next 2 fights it would be lame of Dana and co.

Cammo101 · Post #15 » by **Cammo101** » Sat Dec 24, 2011 9:03 am

CPT wrote:Is everyone here assuming he beats Cormier?

I'm not. That's a close fight. If he loses, all of a sudden this 5 year win streak against guys like Brett Rogers and Geronimo Dos Santos isn't going to count for much.

I think Cormier is a nightmare style matchup for Barnett. He is one of the few HWs Barnett can't take down and it is very questionable that he can outstrike him.

Cammo101 · Post #16 » by **Cammo101** » Sat Dec 24, 2011 9:04 am

Posey H8er wrote:I would be really angry if Barnett won the GP and the following fight, and was NOT merged into the UFC. Hell even if he only won 1 of the next 2 fights it would be lame of Dana and co.

I'm sure Dana would bring him over and just wait patiently for Josh to test positive for the 4th time and then they can cut him.

Post #17 » by **CPT** » Sun Dec 25, 2011 7:41 am

Cammo101 wrote:
CPT wrote:Is everyone here assuming he beats Cormier?

I'm not. That's a close fight. If he loses, all of a sudden this 5 year win streak against guys like Brett Rogers and Geronimo Dos Santos isn't going to count for much.

I think Cormier is a nightmare style matchup for Barnett. He is one of the few HWs Barnett can't take down and it is very questionable that he can outstrike him.

I wouldn't say it's questionable at all. I think Cormier straight up tools him standing. I may be underestimating Barnett standing up, because it's not like he's lost there, or a mitigating factor like a reach advantage (I assume Barnett has one in this fight?), but DC's striking has looked very very good and I think it will be even better by the time they fight.

However, I do think there's a chance Barnett can get him to the ground, where he would have an obvious advantage. Cormier has the wrestling pedigree, but Barnett is one of the best HW grapplers in MMA, and there are methods of getting a guy down in an MMA fight that would not be seen in a wrestling match.

RalphWiggum · Post #18 » by **RalphWiggum** » Sun Dec 25, 2011 8:23 am

CPT wrote:
Cammo101 wrote:
CPT wrote:Is everyone here assuming he beats Cormier?

I'm not. That's a close fight. If he loses, all of a sudden this 5 year win streak against guys like Brett Rogers and Geronimo Dos Santos isn't going to count for much.

I think Cormier is a nightmare style matchup for Barnett. He is one of the few HWs Barnett can't take down and it is very questionable that he can outstrike him.

I wouldn't say it's questionable at all. I think Cormier straight up tools him standing. I may be underestimating Barnett standing up, because it's not like he's lost there, or a mitigating factor like a reach advantage (I assume Barnett has one in this fight?), but DC's striking has looked very very good and I think it will be even better by the time they fight.

However, I do think there's a chance Barnett can get him to the ground, where he would have an obvious advantage. Cormier has the wrestling pedigree, but Barnett is one of the best HW grapplers in MMA, and there are methods of getting a guy down in an MMA fight that would not be seen in a wrestling match.

If Barnett gets the fight to the ground and establishes top position it's over. Cormier doesn't have the pedigree to be able to handle a fighter like Josh off his back. Frankly as much as I believe Barnett is an average striker I don't think he is at as much of a disadvantage on the feet against Cormier as most do. Cormier is a decent striker (nothing more) but he is no JDS or Overeem on the feet on his best day. Josh could trade and win although I doubt he would ever be stupid enough to play that game when he has so much of an advantage everywhere else. This fight more times than not will end on the ground and on the ground I believe Cormier is in a world of trouble and will be exposed.

I think Barnett tears through Cormier in a round or two and instantly becomes a top UFC heavyweight.

That's just my IMO, been wrong before and I will be again but I have no other way of putting this but I think that Josh has "just figured it out" in a way very few heavyweights ever have. That catch wrestling (which I still don't fully understand) is ridiculously hard to deal with when he gets where he wants, it seems to be something nobody has an answer for right now.

He's a scary match up for anyone the way he has looked lately.

Post #19 » by **spykelee** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 5:54 am

I don't think Barnett will have that many issues getting this fight to the ground. He's real good at covering ground and smothering his opponents and imposing his will from there. Barnett's experience will allow him to get the fight to the ground, and then his skill level will take over. I too, see Barnett winning fairly easily in no more than 2 rounds.