The UFC`s heavyweight division might have taken a significantly different path if a promising new star had remained active. Recently, a fellow UFC star hailed current champion Tom Aspinall as the greatest heavyweight in the promotion`s history.
While the division currently faces challenges in attracting major star power, it has historically been one of the UFC`s most pivotal weight classes. Debates about the true heavyweight GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) are perpetual, with Daniel Cormier suggesting Cain Velasquez would have claimed this title if not for his career-altering injuries.
Another fighter, despite showing immense potential and securing a spectacular victory, saw his UFC tenure abruptly cut short due to unrelated circumstances.
Dana White Reflects on Josh Barnett`s Untapped Potential After His UFC Departure as Champion
The current state of the heavyweight division has drawn criticism from MMA fans, who note a perceived lack of prominent names and exciting new contenders. However, in 2002, a fighter emerged with the promise of becoming the division`s next big star: Josh Barnett, who, at just 24, became the youngest heavyweight champion in UFC history.
At UFC 36, Barnett made history by being the first fighter to defeat the legendary Randy Couture inside the Octagon, securing a comeback victory in the second round.
Regrettably, Barnett`s championship reign was brief, as he was stripped of the title after testing positive for banned substances for a second time. He subsequently competed in numerous other promotions, eventually making a return to the Octagon in 2013, late in his mixed martial arts career.
Months prior to his return, during a press conference where Dana White was questioned about Barnett re-signing with the UFC, the promotion`s president openly discussed the heavyweight`s immense untapped potential.
“It’s up to him. He’s a big boy. He’s been around a long time. He kind of flies by the seat of his pants, anyway. I mean, even after he won the title, imagine if Josh Barnett stayed in the UFC his whole career, what he could have accomplished, the money he could have made, and all the things that could have happened. But he’s his own guy, he wants to do his own thing. I got no problem with that.”
Josh Barnett Returns to Action This Weekend in His Pro Wrestling Endeavors
Although Josh Barnett last competed in MMA in 2016, he has remained actively involved in another competitive field. The former UFC heavyweight champion is a regular fixture in professional wrestling, notably promoting `Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport` events with GCW.
His next event is scheduled for this weekend, September 28, at London`s Electric Ballroom, where Barnett himself is slated to compete against a fellow combatant. Barnett`s opponent will be England`s Oli Thompson, who boasts a professional MMA record of 23-18 and previously had two stints in the UFC in 2012.
Neville Whittle 
Jack Thornley