Josh Barnett has two goals in Bellator: Fight Fedor, win heavyweight title
Josh Barnett has laid out his plans for his tenure in Bellator and it starts on Friday at Bellator: Salute the Troops in Hawaii when he battles Ronny Markes.
Although Markes is not a marquee fight, Barnett is viewing it as another fight in his career.
“It’s not really about him. This is about me and how sharp and capable and ready I am,” Barnett said to MMA Junkie. “I don’t expect anything but the best out of Ronny Markes. I hope for the best of him that night. But, it’s just another fight. I know what I need to do to perform at my best. And as long as I can do that then I’ll be happy with whatever happens out there.
“But I highly doubt I’ll experience anything other than victory if I’m at my best.”
After the Markes fight, Josh Barnett is looking to dethrone Ryan Bader, especially after how impressive he was in the heavyweight grand prix.
“Tough dude, he really asserted himself in that (Bellator heavyweight grand prix) and had some great performances,” Barnett said. “I think it would be foolish to ever discount Bader or to undermine what he’s done, but I don’t see him as someone that could keep me from being champion. I’m a better fighter, and I’m bigger.”
His only other goal besides fighting for the title is to battle a legend in Fedor Emelianenko.
“Besides the belt, Fedor (Emelianenko) is the only thing I really got my sights on here in Bellator,” Barnett said. “I hope that I can get the opportunity to be in the ring with my friend and a legendary and incredible fighter that Fedor was and is before he decides to call it quits. I hope him and ‘Rampage’ (Jackson) have a massively awesome fight, and nobody gets hurt.”
