Josh Barnett

By FCF Staff

Recently Josh Barnett signed with Bellator, and it looks like the former UFC champ will fight for Bellator’s heavyweight crown in his promotional debut,

Bellator President Scott Coker was recently in London, England for a press conference, and following it, he was asked about what could be next for Barnett (quote via MMA Junkie):

“Ryan (Bader) will stay at heavyweight for his next fight and he will fight the No. 1 contender that is Cheick Kongo,” Coker said.  “That fight will probably happen in the fall, or late summertime something like August or September. That fight will happen and then Josh will probably fight the winner of the two.”

The 41-year-old Barnett (35-8) hasn’t fought since September, 2016, when he submitted Andrei Arlovski. The decorated fighter was sidelined for months, as Barnett successfully appealed a flag for prohibited substances from USADA. After being exonerated, Barnett requested and received his UFC release.