UFC
Josh Barnett ready for UFC return, thinks fight with Brock Lesnar would be "big business" and highly interesting
Feb 17, 2015 - 11:00:48 AM Josh Barnett ready for UFC return, thinks fight with Brock Lesnar would be "big business" and highly interesting

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Josh Barnett is getting ready to return to the Octagon, and a potential fight with a possibly returning Brock Lesnar remains an interesting proposition. However, Barnett takes a different approach to that matchup than others he feels eye Lesnar as an easy fight.

"That would be huge business," Barnett said of a bout with Lesnar on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. "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 at 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.'"

Regardless of whether Lesnar returns, Barnett says he's in "constant connection" with the UFC, and when they line up something that makes sense, he'll be back in the cage.

Penick's Analysis: It's an interesting take on those who would call out Lesnar and Punk, and a fair point. Now, just because they're thinking that way about someone who has less experience doesn't mean they'd roll through them anyway, but it does seem to be the mindset of many trying to get those fights. It's a big name fight against someone they feel they can beat, which means bigger paydays and more exposure than perhaps they'd have gotten to that point, so it makes sense, but I like Barnett's approach here where he's also interested in the stylistic piece of that fight. I'm still not convinced Lesnar ever returns to the cage, but if he did, I'd definitely be interested in him against Barnett.