Josh Barnett Has Requested His Release from the UFC
Josh Barnett doesn’t want to be a UFC fighter anymore.
The former heavyweight champion has requested his release from the promotion after just recently being cleared to return to action after a 15-month long saga to clear his name in an anti-doping case with USADA.
Barnett tested positive for a banned substance back in 2016 and it took 15 months for him to finally receive word back from independent arbitrators that he was the victim of a tainted supplement and was only publicly reprimanded for the incident.
Still 15 months were taken away from Barnett that he’ll never get back and it appears staying at odds with USADA led to his request to be released from the UFC.
“It’s true that I have asked for my release and we are discussing the terms now,” Barnett told ESPN. “Zuffa [parent company of the UFC] has been fantastic and above-board since I re-signed with the company. Every promise made has been kept and I have no disparaging words for them.”
After Barnett was cleared to return to action, he never requested to be re-entered into the USADA drug testing pool and now he’s asking for his release from the UFC.
UFC officials have not made a statement yet regarding Barnett’s request or pending release.
