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Josh Barnett finally has an opponent for his MMA return. After much speculation and several fighters turning down fights with "The Babyfaced Assassin," multiple published reports state that he will make his return next weekend at DREAM 13 against Siala "Mighty Mo" Siliga.
Formerly regarded as a top five heavyweight before a third failed steroid test pulled him from the biggest fight of his career against Fedor Emelianenko and essentially killed Affliction, Barnett has now been out of MMA action since a January 2009 victory over Gilbert Yvel at Affliction's Day of Reckoning pay-per-view event.
The failed test came during the licensing process in the State of California, and as he was simply refused a license at that time he has not been subject to any further discipline or suspension by the commission. Still, Barnett has appealed the test's result, but the hearing for the appeal has been delayed on multiple occasions throughout the year for a number of reasons on Barnett's part.
"Might Mo" will take only his fifth MMA rules fight in this bout, which will air live at 3am ET in the U.S. on HDNet from the March 22 at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, but Siliga is a highly accomplished K-1 kickboxer who is also a two time K-1 World Grand Prix Champion. He was set to return last June to face Mirko Cro Cop before Cro Cop decided to stay in the UFC.
DREAM 13 is headlined by a DREAM Featherweight Championship bout between Bibiano Fernandes and Joachim Hansen, and also features former EliteXC Lightweight Champion K.J. Noons in action on loan from Strikeforce.
Penick's Analysis: Barnett's got a long way to go to return to the ranks of a respected top heavyweight. The fact that he has missed multiple appeal dates for the steroid test failure doesn't give him much in the forum of public opinion in regards to his case. The simple fact of the matter is that he's now been popped three times for steroids, and any argument he wants to make in claiming his innocence is going to fall on deaf ears.
With that out of the way, as far as the fight goes it's a good match up. Barnett should be favored, as he can submit "Mighty Mo" on the ground if the fight gets there, but Siliga has the power and the striking ability to take him out. Barnett's got KO power himself, so really he should win this fight and still could wind up facing Fedor in Japan at some point, but it's highly likely that he won't be welcomed back to a U.S. promotion anytime in the near future.
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