HONOLULU – Josh Barnett stole the show at the Bellator 235 open workouts.
The heavyweight veteran turned his workout into a full-on pro wrestling match Wednesday in Hawaii. The wrestling show was obviously out of the norm when it comes to open workouts. In fact, the showcase was likely the first in Bellator history.
Although coolers and a chair were involved in the well-choreographed match, none of it was planned Barnett (35-8 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) said.
“No, nothing. I did all of this in five minutes,” Barnett told MMA Junkie following the open workouts.
Barnett, who will be taking on Ronny Markes in the main event of Friday’s Bellator 235 for his promotional debut, says he’s here in Bellator to standout and not follow in the routine acts of fight week.
“I’m not here to do the same as everybody,” Barnett explained. “I’m not here to do the same stuff, the same stale things, these are my moments. Every time these things are on me, every time you put me up there, I own this. For me, this is my time, not anybody else’s, and it will be the same come fight night.”
Despite having fun out there and put on a show for the fans and media, Barnett is still all business.
“Not to give you a disappointing answer, but this doesn’t matter,” Barnett said. “I’m glad people enjoyed it and we had this moment, but this is the last of any entertainment part of me in this sense that you’re going to see. It’s giving somebody something to watch, something to talk about, make the rounds, but I’m not here to put on workouts to show what’s going to happen in the cage. You’ll see it when we get in the ring, you’ll see it. Tthat’s what counts.”
Josh Barnett before Bellator 235: 'I'm not here to do the same as everybody'