Whatever Happened to Josh Barnett?

[Aberlour]

Gordon Ryan is currently one of the best grapplers in the world.

He's been frequently accused of PEDS for famously going through a body transformation in a short period of time. Either way, he's only 24 years old and likely to be dominant for some time.

I want to see him against Ian Jones. They've spoken about it over facebook a few times, nobody outside grappling gives a fuck but this would be a very interesting match.

 

[YourfatherII]

I still don’t understand how anyone could watch pro-wrestling..I much prefer the real sport. NCAA has some great matches they show on Fox sports.

 

[wookie brawl]

I think he left the ufc when USADA was announced, or within a few months. I think he went to Strikeforce for a bit.

 

[Max_P]

UFC is tough, can't compete while you cheat...

 

[Protagoras]

He failed his 4th drug test, got in a protracted legal battle with the Ufc, sought, and got, his release and is now fighting , and commentating, for bellator.

Well good for him, I say.

It’s amazing to me how many times he’s popped for roids though. You would think by this point he’d have a better idea of how to get away with it.

 

[JKS]

As painful as it is to say, I don’t see how Fedor wins that one. It’s like he’s forgotten how to grapple or something.

Which is highly ironic, given that his style originated around his sambo and judo pedigree.

I think Barnett would knock Fedor out. Barnett may be passed it as well, but he's still got a solid chin. Yah, its unfortunate he doesn't grapple anymore. Perhaps it gasses him.

 

[grapplingod]

Gordon Ryan is currently one of the best grapplers in the world.

He's been frequently accused of PEDS for famously going through a body transformation in a short period of time. Either way, he's only 24 years old and likely to be dominant for some time.

Everyone at the top level of BJJ is on steroids so that's a moot argument.

Not attacking you personally but I'm pointing out the hypocrisy of the argument; I think people single him out because he talks shit, backs it up, and triggers Brazilians.

 

[rjmbrd]

Everyone at the top level of BJJ is on steroids so that's a moot argument.

Not attacking you personally but I'm pointing out the hypocrisy of the argument.

Its ridiculous to make blanket statements like that. Frankly its absurd.

I would bet a substantial amount of money the Mendes brothers have never done steroids. Rafa doesn't have one or two gold medals, he has a wall full of them.

It is the cheaters who want to perpetuate the idea that 'everyone' is cheating, because they are cheaters.

 

[grapplingod]

Its ridiculous to make blanket statements like that. Frankly its absurd.

I would bet a substantial amount of money the Mendes brothers have never done steroids. Rafa doesn't have one or two gold medals, he has a wall full of them.

It is the cheaters who want to perpetuate the idea that 'everyone' is cheating, because they are cheaters.

And I think you're being extremely naive, but hey, to each their own.

Also, why do you single out the Mendes brothers? Because they're skinny and "look" honest? Ortega's not much more built than either of them, and he was busted a few years ago.

 

[JustforBROCK]

Barnett is a joke and a huuuuuuuuge waste of talent. He popped for riods soooo many times people stopped even making fun of him for it, and he never, not once, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever, had a good body. Fucking goof.

 

[Flex Plexico]

Guys like Barnett are the exact reason I have no problem with PED usage. I really can’t get worked up if a cool guy like Barnett wants to pop a gram of test each week while he’s training.

crazy how his body often looked, given the PEDs

I’ve wondered if he has Klinefelter’s

 

[Kvothe_the_kingkiller]

Well good for him, I say.

It’s amazing to me how many times he’s popped for roids though. You would think by this point he’d have a better idea of how to get away with it.

His latest positive test would have passed the sniff test for anyone except him.

• He meticulously documented all his supplements, and kept samples from each.
• He tested the samples, found one that looked like his + test, and submitted it.
• USADA tested it and concluded with certainty that it was what caused his + test.
• That took 6 months. And for anyone else, they would have given him a retroactive 6 month suspension.
• Instead, USADA wanted to treat him as a repeat offender, even though his prior offenses were not under the USADA program.
• It went to mediation, and the mediator sided with Barnett.

https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2018...drug-testing-arbitration-ufc-game-changer-mma
“In my experience as an arbitrator of hundreds of cases of doping cases, I have never heard testimony from an individual who has taken so much care to record his supplement regime in order to avoid the very problem he is now experiencing,” McLaren wrote.
He did, in the arbitrator’s view, just about everything he could reasonably be expected to do in order to prevent an anti-doping policy violation. And still USADA wanted to give him a lengthy suspension, in part because of his history of positive drug tests.​

So after an expensive 2 year legal battle, he said fuck UFC and USADA, and UFC gladly released him. He signed with Bellator https://www.mmamania.com/2019/4/1/18291054/josh-barnett-signs-multi-fight-contract-bellator-mma.

In the last few years he has done numerous sub grappling events, and pro wrestling. And of course he also lives a full, fun, active life outside combat sports.

 

[rjmbrd]

And I think you're being extremely naive, but hey, to each their own.

Also, why do you single out the Mendes brothers? Because they're skinny and "look" honest? Ortega's not much more built than either of them, and he was busted a few years ago.

Because the Mendes brothers have never gone through a physical body transformation - eg like Gordan has - and have spent a substantial amount of time training competitors in their own academy. The way they live and their personal philosophy isn't a mystery.

The same with Marcelo, and those familiar with him can tell you he doesn't even like vitamins and his concept in teaching and in competing isn't all about winning.

So some of it is nuanced, and some of it is common sense.

Regarding Ortega, I wouldn't say he's "skinny" but he was busted taking a PED known for helping you shed weight while maintaining muscle. He's enormous for the featherweight division, some of this stuff you should be able to parse.

 

[MarloStanfield]

I’m not familiar with the testing, but the kid has technique for sure, but your right, he seems to have that extra sauce on him. Not for years. I think he stopped when he went to MMA.

Uriah faber was competing for awhile after the ufc, so maybe he’ll come back with some tricks if the rumors of his return are true

Faber fought last week in the UFC bud, had a win and wants a title shot

 

[grapplingod]

Because the Mendes brothers have never gone through a physical body transformation - eg like Gordan has

You do realize that there are plenty of PEDs on the market that assist your performance in ways not related to building muscle?

 

[rjmbrd]

You do realize that there are plenty of PEDs on the market that assist your performance in ways not related to building muscle?

Of course, and we've had two guys in Tibau and Dillashaw get caught on EPO since USADA has been implemented.

However, if you go back and read what you posted, and I directly responded to, verbatim "everyone is on steroids."

Obviously my response, quoting that, was contextualized in that comment.

 

[cmw43]

I looked around the internets and couldn’t find anything saying he was retired, but he hasn’t fought in 3 years so I’m kind of wondering what’s going on.

Anyone have any information on if or when he’s ever coming back? Or if he has officially retired?

He has always been one of my favorite fighters, but he’s 41 so I can see it being a good time to call it a career.

Also, if anyone wants to share some sick GIFS of the war master, let them flow.

USADA kind of screwed him, suspended him for the best part of two years then decided he was innocent and in that time he got more involved with pro wrestling and asked for his UFC release.

 

[listrahtes]

Of course, and we've had two guys in Tibau and Dillashaw get caught on EPO since USADA has been implemented.

However, if you go back and read what you posted, and I directly responded to, verbatim "everyone is on steroids."

Obviously my response, quoting that, was contextualized in that comment.

I agree with you that such a general statement is not acceptable. But there comes the but

But when I talked with higher level national bjj athletes why they would not enter international anymore they told me that on international level the big majority of fighters is roided out of their minds. Not only a small or medium dose but hardcore roid cycles and they dont want to compete against that.

And when I see brazilian BJJers its mostly (not all) comical how extreme they go into it. I can even relate to a little because they can get a lot of money and no one gives a fuck if they do especially in brazil but as a competitor who is clean this is FUCKED UP!!.

Its rampant but also there are definitely some very high level elite bjj fighters who dont take anything.

And then go on and look at:
Bucheca, Galvao, Popovitch, Ryan, Angelica Galvao, Romulo Barral.....etc. Its a big big problem and as no one really tests the dosages are enormous. You will have a very sizeable strenght and regarding the PED cardio advantage.

 

[listrahtes]

USADA kind of screwed him, suspended him for the best part of two years then decided he was innocent and in that time he got more involved with pro wrestling and asked for his UFC release.

Someone who has cheated that often really can go fuck himself. Barnett was always lying about it and he should not play the victim. Yeah it was the suplements If thats the case it was more like he deliberately asked around and choose it because of that.

Barnett is a lifetime cheater. And I do like him in other aspects quite much. He is an intelligent guy but nevertheless blatant cheater for imo his whole career.