Josh Barnett is a professional wrestler, mixed martial artist, and color commentator. He has a Heavyweight contract with Bellator MMA.
Josh Barnett | Early Life and Education
Josh Lawrence Barnett shortly, Josh Barnett was born on November 10, 1977, in Seattle, Washington, United States. He was born to his father, Quidachay Jones, and his mother’s name is unknown.
Unfortunately, Josh hasn’t revealed much about his personal life. Everything about his parents’ whereabouts and siblings is kept a secret.
Josh also had a difficult childhood. He was forced to attend anger management classes at a young age and was taught to express himself through sports.
Josh achieved success in judo, kickboxing, wrestling, and baseball while attending Ballard High School.
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Similarly, as a sophomore, he knew he wanted to be a fighter in mixed martial arts after watching UFC 2.
After completing high school, Barnett enrolled as a walk-on at the University of Montana to play college football. However, he later decided not to participate in university sports.
Similarly, on the advice of one of his Montana teachers, Barnett went to Jim Harrison’s Bushidokan dojo to train for MMA.
Despite his lack of funds for classes, he was able to obtain instruction in exchange for assisting with repairs and labor at the dojo.
Josh Barnett | Professional Career
In early 1997, Barnett made his professional debut for the Unified Full Contact Federation in Washington. He won by rear-naked choke submission less than three minutes into the fight.
He would go on to dominate, going 9-0 with seven first-round stoppages and victories over future UFC Hall of Famer Dan Severn, Bobby Hoffman, John Marsh, and Bob Gilstrap twice. Barnett was later chosen to compete in the UFC.
UFC
On November 17, 2000, Barnett made his special UFC debut against Gan “The Giant” McGee and won by TKO in the second round.
Despite losing by knockout to Pedro Rizzo in his next fight, he bounced back to win his next two fights over Dutch kickboxer Semmy Schilt and Bobby Hoffman in a rematch.
Following his victory over Hoffman, Barnett tested positive for prohibited substances and received a warning from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Similarly, he was given a shot at the UFC Heavyweight Championship against then-champion and future UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture.
He also won the match by TKO using the ground and pound system, becoming the new and youngest-ever UFC Heavyweight Champion.
However, following the fight, he tested positive for banned substances again, and his title was revoked.
Peak Career
In MMA, Barnett competed in both PRIDE and Pancrase. He is one of the few fighters in both the Pancrase and the UFC who holds the title.
He lost the PRIDE Final Dispute Utter’s final match to Mirko Cro Cop after an accidental finger poke into the eye.
Josh is also a member of the Pancrase Hall of Fame, along with Ken and Frank Shamrock.
After the fight against Nogueira and the UFC’s acquisition of PRIDE, Barnett did not compete in any MMA activities in 2007, except for one Pancrase match against Hikaru Sato, which was held under catch wrestling rules.
Barnett, on the other hand, joined Sengoku, a Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, in 2008. In Affliction: Day of Reckoning in January 2009, Barnett faced PRIDE veteran Gilbert Yvel.
Furthermore, his next match was scheduled for August 1, 2009, against Fedor Emelianenko. However, it was postponed after Josh tested positive for anabolic steroids for the second time.
Retirement
Josh Barnett made his Fantasy debut on March 22, 2010. He unintentionally kicked Mighty Mo in the groin during the fight.
Later, Barnett joined Strikeforce. In May 2012, he lost to Daniel Cormier in Barnett vs. Cormier at Strikeforce.
Furthermore, at the final Strikeforce event in January 2013, Barnett was defeated once more by Nandor Guelmino.
He has not fought in the UFC since his loss to Daniel Cormier on May 19, 2012. Furthermore, Barnett hasn’t won a UFC fight since 2009.
Return
Barnett initially refused to contract with the UFC in 2012. Barnett later signed a multi-fight promotional contract, which was revealed on May 21, 2013.
Since then, Barnett has competed three times in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. On June 20, 2018, the UFC released his application.
Barnett also signed a contract with Bellator MMA on April 1, 2019. He was set to make his Bellator debut against Ronny Markes on December 20, 2019, at the Salute the Troops event.
Other Career
In 2017, Barnett founded UWF USA, a Shootfighting and Catch Wrestling-based fight team. He is the team’s head coach and trainer.
In the Xbox 360 game Beautiful Katamari, Barnett played a wrestler wearing his trademark trunks and PRIDE FC gloves.
He also did some acting, appearing in Absolution with Steven Seagal in 2015 and Never Back Down: No Surrender with Michael Jai White in 2016.
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Relationship and Marriage
Josh Barnett dated Colleen Schneider, an accomplished MMA fighter. Their relationship news had previously flooded social media.
Josh and Collen used to work together in several commercials, which contributed to their blossoming love.
Similarly, this informed the media and their fans of how close they were.
Unfortunately, their friendship fell apart and they split up due to some extremely repulsive behavior between them.
Josh’s dreams of marrying Collen were dashed as a result of this. Colleen, on the other hand, moved on after her breakup with Josh and met someone as her new boyfriend.
Josh has not stated whether he has found a new girlfriend or is still single. After his breakup with Colleen, he has kept his life low-key.
Josh Barnett | Net Worth and Salary
Josh Barnett has accumulated substantial wealth from his fighting career. He has earned millions of dollars in addition to his name and fame.
The majority of his fortune was accumulated cash earnings from his successful fighting career and championship wins.
He is also a member of Strikeforce and UFC suction camps. Barnett has been a UFC fighter since 2007 and has fought three times.
Aside from that, he has secured numerous product endorsement deals, which have significantly increased his income.
Barnett’s net worth is estimated to be $1.8 Million.
Josh Barnett | Controversies
During his fight against Croatian Mirko Cro Cop, Barnett dislocated his shoulder. He had surgery and a six-month recovery period following his injury.
Josh defeated Randy Couture to win the UFC heavyweight title on March 22, 2002, in Las Vegas, only to have the title stripped due to a failed drug test.
He returned to the UFC after an 11-year absence with a victory over Frank Mir at UFC164 and went 3-2 before his ban.
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Josh Barnett | Body Measurements
Josh’s current weight is 112 kg (248 lbs/17 st 10 lbs). However, because fighters must undergo several weight-loss procedures in order to compete, their weight fluctuates.
Similarly, fighters are typically short, but that is not the case with Barnett, who stands at 6 ft 3 in (191 cm).
He also has a strong body as a result of his years of training. Furthermore, the gifted fighter has blue eyes and brown hair.
Josh Barnett | Social Media Presence
Josh is an excellent wrestler, but he is also an excellent hider, as he keeps all of his belongings hidden and avoids discussing them frequently.
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We can only find him on two platforms: Twitter and Instagram. He frequently posts photos and tweets about his personal life and work.
So, if you want to follow him and learn more about his day-to-day activities, follow him on Instagram, and for professional updates, follow him on Twitter.
Some FAQs:
What is Josh Barnett’s track record in the ring?
Josh Barnett has 35 wins, 8 losses, and 0 draws in his professional career.
What is the name of Josh Barnett’s manager or agent?
Leland Lebarre was Josh Barnett’s manager in 2018.
Is Josh Barnett an NFL player?
No, Josh Barnett is not a member of the National Football League (NFL).
Quick Facts:
Full Name | Josh Lawrence Barnett |
Birth Date | Nov 11, 1977 |
Birth Place | Seattle, Washington |
Nick Name | The Warmaster |
Religion | Not Available |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Education | Ballard High School, University of Montana |
Horoscope | Scorpio |
Father’s Name | Quidachay Jones |
Mother’s Name | Not Available |
Siblings | Not Available |
Age | 44 Years Old |
Weight | 248 lbs (112 kg/17 st 10 lbs) |
Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
Build | Athletic |
Eye Color | Blue |
Hair Color | Brown |
Marital Status | Unmarried |
Profession | American Mixed Martial Artist |
Division | Heavyweight |
Team | CSW |
Fighting Style | Submission Wrestling, Catch Wrestling |
Net Worth | around $2,600,000. |
Active years | 1997-present |
Social Media | Twitter, Instagram |
Merch | Pullover Hoodie, Warmaster T-shirts |