Josh Barnett enters Bellator with two goals: Beat Ryan Bader for title, fight Fedor Emelianenko

Josh Barnett has clear goals entering the latest chapter of his MMA career.

The former UFC heavyweight champion will make his Bellator debut on Friday when he takes on Ronny Markes in the main event of Bellator 235 in Hawaii. The bout against Markes will be Barnett’s first fight since leaving the UFC in 2018. He last competed in 2016, when he submitted Andrei Arlovski in a fight that earned him two $50,000 bonuses for “Performance of the Night” and “Fight of the Night.”

It was a legal battle with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which administers the UFC’s anti-doping program, that kept Barnett (35-8 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) out of action. He eventually won the case, proving his failed drug test came from a tainted supplement, but it was still a lengthy process that took away his ability to compete for almost two years.

Now preparing for a return with Bellator, the 42-year-old Barnett is re-living some of the things he missed (and didn’t miss) about fighting.

“It’s fun in its own right, but it’s also a process,” Barnett told MMA Junkie about resuming his MMA career. “It’s difficult, and it’s wearing, but the reason you’re doing it, it’s because there is something at the end of that tunnel. So with that in mind, it is an opportunity to enjoy what you have and what you can do with your body while you have the opportunity.”

For Barnett, Markes is just a body put in front of him. “The Warmaster” believes his fight in Hawaii is all about himself and what he can do in the cage.

“It’s not really about him. This is about me and how sharp and capable and ready I am,” Barnett said. “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.”

Getting the job done against Markes is the first step for Barnett’s career in Bellator. And beyond Friday night, Barnett has a few other things in mind he’d like to do in the Viacom-owned promotion.

“Another belt would add to the legacy; another belt would add to the pay raise, too,” Barnett said.

The Bellator heavyweight title is currently held by Ryan Bader, who also holds the light heavyweight champiosnhip. Barnett acknowledges Bader as a good fighter, but not good enough to keep him away from his goal.

“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.”

A Bellator world title isn’t the only thing Barnett has his eye on. The heavyweight veteran would love to cross paths with a fellow Pride FC legend, too.

“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.”