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Not much needs to be said about Josh Barnett, he burst onto the MMA scene after a Hawaiian Superbrawl tourney and took the UFC by storm, defeating UFC posterboy Randy Couture and earning the UFC Heavyweight title. Josh then went on to win the Openweight King of Pancrase Title while becomming a popular Japan Pro Wrestler. Josh faced Mirko 'CroCop' Filipovic at Pride 28: High Octane where after a takedown, Josh injured his shoulder and was forced to tap. Josh Barnett is now scheduled to face CroCop in a rematch on Monday, October 24th at the Pride: Fully Loaded event.

Lockflow's own Charles Pearson (Combatchaz), sat down with Josh and talked with him about his upcoming match and his views on a few issues. Enjoy.

Lockflow:Josh not much has been mentioned about you in the media lately, what have you been up to?

Josh Barnett: I just bought a new house with 5.2 acres so I can now build my dream garage. With all the cars I have and my hot rod hobbies I will certainly need one.

I also picked up a 1971 Ford Torino 500 fastback that I’ve been rocking. It’s got almost no rust on it and a straight body. I plan to drive it for a little while then when the opportunity comes, drop a 514 cubic inch big block in it.

I want a street car that looks and sounds bad and runs 10’s. On 93 octane a 514 will make 625 horsepower. I plan to top it with a tunnel ram fed by twin 750 Holley HP’s and nitrous. That should get me to the grocery store in a hurry.

LF: I can't tell you how excited I am that this rematch is going to happen. In your 1st fight with Mirko, you got the takedown and then tapped out due to some kind of shoulder injury, what happened and how are you now?

JB: I am glad your excited Chiggity Chaz-o-matic!

www.joshbarnett.com picture, vs Semmy Schiltwww.joshbarnett.com picture, vs Semmy Schilt

I hurt it when I had his leg and pushed him over for the takedown. They way his leg and my arm were tangled up caused my shoulder to externally rotate to the point it dislocated. A freak accident to be sure.

Right now it’s coming along great and I know that come fight time I can hit with power in both hands, submit him or suplex him if need be.

LF: Did you ask for the re-match with Mirko or did he?

JB: Actually I think he did. My opinion is that he wants to fight me then Minotauro and after that retire. I am assuming he thinks he’ll win both those fights. However, I can help him retire sooner if he wants.

LF: Where have you been training and who have you been training with for this match?

JB: I have been training at AMC as usual but also I have been putting in time with Jeff Monson at American Top Team in Olympia. When you have a grappler of that size and skill it is worth it to take the time just to train with them. In turn I have been helping him get ready for his fights.

At AMC besides Matt Hume I have had a great selection of guys to work with like: Chris Leben, Hayato Sakurai, Akira Shoji, Falaniko Vitale.
So far everyone who has been training with me has won their fights so now Niko, Jeff, and myself have to keep the streak going.

www.joshbarnett.tv picture, vs. Randy Couturewww.joshbarnett.tv picture, vs. Randy Couture

LF: Many people consider you one of the top 5 heavyweights in the world; a win over CroCop will certainly confirm it. Are you looking to make a statement with this fight?

JB: A big statement with an exclamation point. I want to show the world that he was never going to win that fight. I want to show him want it means to really fight with me.

As for the “Rankings”, I don’t pay attention to that since most of them are just some internet spew. If the fans are excited and feel like they got an amazing fight then I know I’m doing my job.

LF: Other than CroCop are there any other fighters you would like to face?

JB: Anyone that wants to be the best will always seek out who has the highest belt and that right now is Fedor. I will do what it takes to get my shot to prove that I am the best fighter in the world, bar none.

I have always wanted to face Minotauro as well and with this win I know I can get that fight. He was considered the “unbeatable” one for awhile too.

Probably the biggest incentive thought is for me to get the PRIDE Championship belt to combine it with my UFC title and King of Pancrase belt to make the worlds only MMA Triple crown. Capturing the three biggest belts in MMA is something none have ever done.

www.joshbarnett.tv picture, vs. Gan McGeewww.joshbarnett.tv picture, vs. Gan McGee

LF: When you fight, do have have a game plan that you try to force, or do you adapt to the flow of the fight?

JB: I have pretty much seen anyone that’s at the top level fight and have figured out their strengths and weaknesses. I will always attack a fighter at their weakness but you can’t take openings by forcing them.

There isn’t any reason for me to worry about what they do or that I have to stick to one set way. It’s better to be good enough to fight without worry and more importantly, impose your will on your opponent.

LF: I’ve seen you listed as a catch-wrestler, and now on the internet forums I've read that you are now a member of Scientific Wrestling. What is the difference between Catch Wrestling and Submission and what is Scientific Wrestling.

JB: Well submission wrestling is just a more modern, generic term really. Catch Wrestling is essentially what pro-wrestling was when it was real.

Long before they had thought about sports entertainment, pro-wrestling, (also known as Catch-as-Catch-can) was a real art. Catch’s more modern lineages can be traced back to Billy Riley and the Snake Pit in Wiggen England. From Billy Riley we have “God of Pro Wrestling” Karl Gotch who trained Antonio Inoki, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Masakatsu Funaki and so on.

www.joshbarnett.tv picturewww.joshbarnett.tv picture

While less known than Gotch but no less amazing is Rileys other star pupil, Billy Robinson. Robinson was an amazing wrestler and had many legendary matches especially with Inoki. Robinson with UWF, UWFI veteran Yuko Miyato and Thai boxing champion Makato Oe run a gym in Tokyo (Koenji to be exact) called the UWF Snakepit.

Scientific Wrestling is an organization with the sole purpose of keeping Catch alive and bringing the true ability of wrestling to the forefront. Next February in L.A., Scientific Wrestling will host a seminar featuring Catch master and Gotch disciple, Yoshiaki Fujiwara. I will also run a section on modern Catch for MMA and competition.

For more info on Catch Wrestling including a history and superb products visit: www.www.scientificwrestling.com

For information on the UWF Snakepit please visit: www.uwf-snakepit.com Sorry but Japanese only.

The difference in any style really lies in the applications, philosophies and strategies used. Moves are just moves and anyone can do them. It’s how you use them that changes things.

For instance: A BJJ guy might pass guard and obtain side control. From there he might patiently work until he gets something or just wait for the bottom guy to give him something.

In Catch you never stop attacking. In this case it is more like amateur wrestling in that you constantly pressure your opponent, be it with your rides, takedowns or attacking for a catch. A Catch guy would always rather work from on top than be on bottom. A bottom game is just as important however the idea is that why be getting rode on bottom when you could be riding on top.

www.joshbarnett.tv picture, vs Yuki Kondowww.joshbarnett.tv picture, vs Yuki Kondo

LF: what do you think of the UFC ban on internet MMA Media?

JB: I think it's a bad idea to ban all the internet media without proper criteria for getting credentials. I would keep the "Fanboy" types out but certainly not the big sites or even a newspaper. They do need to get more mainstream media press but takeing away one of the largest sources of free press availible and then ticking them off seems unwise.

LF: Because of you charismatic actions in the ring (ex. slicing your own throat with you thumb after your victories, licking the blood of your defeated opponent off your glove and your super hero postures) The Internet Forums seem to have two groups of fans, those who really support you and those that bash you. What would you like to say to each group?

JB: To the fans that support me I truly thank you and always aim to give you an amazing fight. You are truly those that love to be entertained.

To the ones who hate, hate it up. Hate till the veins in your head pop out. Just pay for the fights and spell my name right.

LF: Thanks Josh, and good luck.

JB: Anytime Big-C. Sometime I hope you get the chance to Phantom Front Choke some of the nay-sayers of your signature move. Haha….just not me.

Check out www.JoshBarnett.tv too!