Josh Barnett turns down the UFC and should sign with another promotion. (Photo by Esther Lin/Strikeforce)
The soap opera between Josh Barnett and the UFC appears to have come to an end.
The onetime heavyweight champion was rumored to have a return to the UFC after Strikeforce ceased to exist, but details in the negotiating room soured the courtship between the fighter and the organization.
Barnett’s representative, Leland LaBarre, said he refused the promotion’s final offer and chose to move on with his fighter. After saying he had spoken with other events, major ones or otherwise, Labarre put a closing stop to the story.
“There are some outlying issues—one in particular—that as of this point we were unable to agree on,” LeBarre told MMAFighting.com on Wednesday, without elaborating on what the point of contention is.
Barnett (32-6) has 20 career submission wins and once TKO’d Randy Couture in the second round to win the heavyweight title at UFC 36. However, a subsequent failed drugs test meant he lost his belt as quickly as he’d come by it.
LeBarre also did not share which other promotions he is negotiating with.
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